Tube Strike From 1859 TODAY for 48 hours

[Gavin-D]

Hi, The entire Tube network is expected to close down entirely from 1859 GMT tonight and remain closed until Friday morning. Docklands Light Railway and London Overground services will operate as normal. Transport for London (TfL) has said there will be 100 extra buses, extra river services, taxi-sharing at major railway stations, escorted commuter cycle rides into central London, additional cycle parking and a free river shuttle service to help travellers get around London. "Pay as you go" Oyster cardholders will be able to use National Rail services in London on Wednesday and Thursday. TfL staff will also be on hand across the bus network and at Tube stations to offer travel advice and distribute walking maps in central London.

TFL Site
BBC News

[bgstrowger]

Kinda makes me wish I hadn't moved out of London. Could've done with a couple of days off.

[BR7MT]

Apart from the totally unreasonable demands, the other thing that bugs me is that they can set up picket lines in strategic places to prevent other RMT members from getting to work, even if they don't work directly for LU!

Regards,

Dan

[jbilton]

Hi

"A draft solution drawn up by Acas on Wednesday has been approved by the RMT and will be presented to LU later."

"General Secretary of the RMT Bob Crow said he was "ready and willing" to start fresh talks with LU over the proposed solution..... .But he reiterated: "Well there was an agreement signed and someone pulled the rug."

"The London Chamber of Commerce has estimated the capital's economy will lose more than £100m over the course of the strike."

Shame they couldn't get this agreement earlier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8094456.stm

Cheers
Jon

[NewcastleFlyer]

From http://www.smh.com.au/world/london-grip ... -c3y4.html
Some voiced anger and frustration at the striking Tube workers, whose action comes as London battles like everyone else with a severe downturn.

I don't blame commuters for being angry.

But RMT general secretary Bob Crow said his union had "good reason" to be on strike

What "good" reason? I know it won't happen, and just my opinion, but the union should compensate the commuters and businesses & companies that loose business.

They don't have to hold Londoners and commuters to ransom, to try and demand what they want.

[phill70]

I am sorry but who is holding anyone to ransom ?

There was a pay and redundancy agreement in place, and TFL pulled the plug on it, to try to save money, whilst paying managers over £100,000 per year, some of which were paid bonuses of £250,000.

Quite frankly I don't blame them.

[Easilyconfused]

Quite right Glyn.

My employer has been absorbed by a major multinational. Despite making over $1.2 billion profit they still want to axe 5000 jobs in Europe. My colleagues in Germany have been on strike but in the UK we seem to be rolling over and taking the cuts. Too many organisations are taking advantage of the current economic climate to make drastic cuts yet boosting management and director pay. That is why normal plebs in the unions are getting more and more angry.

Sadly, our union can't cause major distruption to the public and generate news headlines so the management do whatever the hell they want and ignore us.

[BR7MT]

If you delve a little deeper you will actually find that most of the cuts are where jobs are being doubled up as a result of taking Metronet back in house. No front line jobs are going and it basically means that LU should be operating more economically and efficiently.

For example - the HR departments of the two companies have now been merged, meaning less people are now required to look after the combined organisation. Same with legal and project management groups. Also, where there have been cutbacks in Step Free Access Projects you no longer need the LU people to oversee them.

I think it is about time these people learnt that just because you are in the public sector it does not mean you have a job for life, especially when the work you did no longer exists!

Regards,

Dan

[jbilton]

Hi
Crickey we'd be putting the flags out if they got rid of our HR .... none of whom are members anyway.
Having said that, they shouldn't be treated any worse than other workers.
Not totally convinced these people would be classed as 'Public Sector'.
They may serve the public, but are now private commercial companies.
The public sector is set to take a hammering in the next 2 years, regardless of what Government we finally settle on.
This has already started in the Probation service, with 25% of staff being made redundant..... not sure where all the criminals have gone.
Cheers
Jon

[connorurry]

I can't agree more.

Those drivers drive a very busy train on a very busy network and they get very hot.

I don't blame them wanting extra pay.

uh oh... Not that song again...

[LeeEAS]

When I read the title I though it said "Tube Strike in 1859"