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Tube strikes set for tomorrow
Tuesday 19th August 2008, 4:26PM BST.
Tube strikes set to start at noon tomorrow are expected to disrupt several services, including Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, London Underground said.
Up to 1,000 maintenance staff are set to down tools tomorrow in the dispute over pay and conditions. The action is due to last for 72 hours, ending on Saturday August 23rd.
The strike action involves trade union RMT and Tube Lines, which runs the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
London Underground said service on all other lines should be normal, although they could be busier as a consequence.
London Underground chief operating officer, Howard Collins, said: “If services are disrupted, customers should seek alternative routes if they normally use the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines. We expect to operate normal services on the rest of the network.”
As for football fans travelling to Wembley for the England match on Wednesday, passengers are advised to leave a little earlier. London Underground hopes to be running a Jubilee service, although it could be busier than usual.
The DLR and buses are not affected by the strikes, the London Underground added.
Tube Lines workers claim their conditions are inferior to those at Metronet.
Metronet operates the Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Victoria lines and its workers receive from free underground travel as well as a final salary pension.
RMT general secretary, Bob Crow, said: “The reality is that Tubelines already pays rates lower than Metronet and offers inferior pensions and travel facilities, and the reason our members voted by a margin of more than three to one to strike is because what is on the table will widen that gap.”
Tube Lines said the offer of a 4.95 per cent pay increase is above inflation and very competitive.
The company has suggested the union has an “ulterior motive” of attempting to return Tube maintenance to public ownership.
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