Tube Workers To Strike For Five Days Londoners are set to endure major disruption for the second time this year as tube workers announce walkouts in April and May. 3:42pm UK, Thursday 17 April 2014
A tube strike in February closed stations across London
- A crowded platform at Clapham Junction train station as tube strikes continue to cause havoc for commuters.
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- London Mayor Boris Johnson takes the tube on the District Line to Southfields.
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- The 48-hour shut down of some of the Underground network in London was due to industrial action over the planned closure of ticket offices.
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- Crowds disembarking from the London Overground at Clapham Junction Station.
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- A stairwell guarded at Clapham Junction station, where a one-way system in place.
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- Crowds at Clapham Junction as commuters rush to take overground trains.
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- Long queues have built up at bus stops and railway stations after the first of two 48-hour stoppages by London Underground staff got under way.
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- Queues at Waterloo station.
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- One disgruntled passenger told Sky News he faced a walk of more than an hour to work on Wednesday as a result of the industrial action. Picture courtesy of twitter use @tomkingham
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- One commuter Paul Hutchinson wrote ‘Thought I could get the district line from tower hill. I was sadly mistaken...’
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- Picture courtesy of Twitter user @tomkingham
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- Picture courtesy of Twitter user @tomkingham
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- Commuters queue for buses outside London Victoria Station.
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- London's Westminster Underground Station.
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- A service information board states "No Piccadilly Line" tube trains during strikes at Green Park underground station.
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- A lone taxi stops to collect passengers from a busier than normal taxi rank at Victoria Station.
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- Commuters queue for buses at London's Waterloo station.
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- An official picket line at London Bridge Underground Station.
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- Commuters at London Bridge Underground Station.
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- The Mayor of London Boris Johnson meets commuters and staff at London Bridge Underground Station.
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- Passengers wait on the eastbound platform of the District Line at Victoria Station.
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- Commuters walk and cycle across London's Waterloo Bridge
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Gallery: February 6 Tube Strike
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Tube workers in London are to take five days of strike action in the coming weeks over ticket office closures.
Members of the RMT union will walk out from 9pm on Monday April 28 for two days and again from 9pm on Monday May 5 for three days.
The first two days of action will take place before a May Day event in London in memory of former RMT leader Bob Crow, and politician and campaigner Tony Benn, who died within days of each other last month.
RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said assurances given when the union suspended a planned strike earlier this month had been "ripped up and thrown back in our faces".
Mr Cash blamed Tube management for "cynically wrecking" long-running talks aimed at settling a dispute over the closure of ticket offices and subsequent job losses.
The scene at Clapham Junction during February strikes He said: "Staff are furious that while senior management pay and staffing levels are being allowed to roar ahead the jobs and pay of the core, station-based staff, who are the interface with the travelling public are being torn to ribbons.
"The assurances that were given at the time RMT suspended the original action for a proper evaluation of the cuts plans have been ripped up and thrown back in our faces.
"As a result, RMT has no option but to put on further strike action in the expectation that the management will now halt these dangerous cuts plans and engage in meaningful and serious talks on the future of a tube network running at full tilt, with further demands in the pipeline, which needs more staff and not less to operate safely."
London Underground responded to the announcement by reiterating there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of any ticket office closures.
They say the RMT has failed to put forward "any credible alternative".
London Underground has urged the RMT to continue with talks "Over the past eight weeks, we have met with our trade union colleagues on over 40 occasions, listening to their concerns and making significant changes as a result," said chief operating officer Phil Hufton.
"I've committed to looking at ways to ensure that no one will lose pay and no supervisor will have to apply for their own job.
"There will be no compulsory redundancies and all requests for voluntary redundancy will be honoured.
"However, the RMT leadership has rejected these changes and has not put forward any credible alternative proposals.
"Next week, we will sit down again with the Aslef, TSSA and Unite unions for further discussions on our plans and how we can meet the needs of our customers in 21st century London.
"I urge the RMT to join us, rather than threaten further unnecessary disruption to Londoners. All a strike will achieve is to lose those who take part pay for each day of action."
Workers from the TSSA rail union - including Transport for London managers and supervisors - have also voted to go on strike in a separate row over pay.
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