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London tube strike called off Tube strike called off after last-ditch talks
(35 minutes later)
A planned three-day strike by London Underground workers in a row over ticket office closures has been called off after last-ditch talks.A planned three-day strike by London Underground workers in a row over ticket office closures has been called off after last-ditch talks.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union were due to walk out from 9pm, but a breakthrough was made at a meeting on Monday with LU. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union had been due to walk out from 9pm, but a breakthrough was made at a meeting on Monday with LU.
The union said the industrial action had been suspended.The union said the industrial action had been suspended.
The union's acting general secretary, Mick Cash, said: "Due to the solidarity and determination of our LU members, and their delivery of rock-solid industrial action last week, we have been able to secure real movement and significant progress on the issues at the heart of this dispute in talks with the tube management over the bank holiday weekend.The union's acting general secretary, Mick Cash, said: "Due to the solidarity and determination of our LU members, and their delivery of rock-solid industrial action last week, we have been able to secure real movement and significant progress on the issues at the heart of this dispute in talks with the tube management over the bank holiday weekend.
"Pre-conditions have been removed, protection of earnings has been agreed and we now have a viable framework for a proper review of the cuts and closures programme. "Preconditions have been removed, protection of earnings has been agreed and we now have a viable framework for a proper review of the cuts and closures programme.
"As a result of that progress, secured directly through our members' campaign of industrial action and the union's drive to get the facts across to the people of London, we are able to suspend the action due to commence this evening and further talks around the fundamental issues of cuts to jobs, services and safety will now take place." "As a result of that progress, secured directly through our members' campaign of industrial action and the union's drive to get the facts across to the people of London, we are able to suspend the action due to commence this evening, and further talks around the fundamental issues of cuts to jobs, services and safety will now take place."
The development followed talks at the conciliation service Acas. An Acas spokeman said: "We are pleased that we have been able to assist the parties to reach an understanding that allows the industrial action this week to be withdrawn." The development followed talks at the conciliation service Acas. An Acas spokesman said: "We are pleased that we have been able to assist the parties to reach an understanding that allows the industrial action this week to be withdrawn."
Phil Hufton, the chief operating officer of London Underground, said: "I am pleased that Londoners will not have to endure further strike action this week."Phil Hufton, the chief operating officer of London Underground, said: "I am pleased that Londoners will not have to endure further strike action this week."
"The only way to resolve this dispute is for the RMT leadership to work with us to shape the future of the tube in a changing world. It is good that they have committed to doing so alongside the three other unions involved."The only way to resolve this dispute is for the RMT leadership to work with us to shape the future of the tube in a changing world. It is good that they have committed to doing so alongside the three other unions involved.
"As we have always said, we are, of course, open to discuss any proposals our staff or the unions may offer. Modernisation of the tube means that it is our intention to close all ticket offices used in less than 3% of journeys, and instead deliver a vastly better customer service by bringing more staff than ever before out on to the concourses of stations at ticket machines, ticket gates and platforms – just as we delivered during the London 2012 Games."As we have always said, we are, of course, open to discuss any proposals our staff or the unions may offer. Modernisation of the tube means that it is our intention to close all ticket offices used in less than 3% of journeys, and instead deliver a vastly better customer service by bringing more staff than ever before out on to the concourses of stations at ticket machines, ticket gates and platforms – just as we delivered during the London 2012 Games.
"This will also allow us to save £50m per annum to reinvest in better and more reliable train services and to keep fares down.""This will also allow us to save £50m per annum to reinvest in better and more reliable train services and to keep fares down."