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Tube strike travel chaos expected Tube strike travel chaos expected
(about 3 hours later)
Tube passengers are braced for travel chaos this week after unions confirmed a 72-hour strike by maintenance workers would start on Monday.Tube passengers are braced for travel chaos this week after unions confirmed a 72-hour strike by maintenance workers would start on Monday.
The Rail Maritime and Transport union said more than 2,300 members would walk out at 1800 BST.The Rail Maritime and Transport union said more than 2,300 members would walk out at 1800 BST.
The action was called in response to fears of job losses after the collapse of maintenance firm Metronet.The action was called in response to fears of job losses after the collapse of maintenance firm Metronet.
A Transport for London spokesperson said it was still hopeful the strike would not go ahead.A Transport for London spokesperson said it was still hopeful the strike would not go ahead.
The RMT and two other Tube unions want guarantees there will be no job losses, forced transfers or cuts in pensions as a result of Metronet's collapse in July while it was in administration.The RMT and two other Tube unions want guarantees there will be no job losses, forced transfers or cuts in pensions as a result of Metronet's collapse in July while it was in administration.
'No guarantees''No guarantees'
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and the Amicus section of new union Unite will announce on Monday whether they will take strike action.The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and the Amicus section of new union Unite will announce on Monday whether they will take strike action.
The two unions have hundreds of members between them.The two unions have hundreds of members between them.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "There has been no contact over the weekend from Metronet or the administrator so as far as we are concerned the strike will definitely go ahead."RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "There has been no contact over the weekend from Metronet or the administrator so as far as we are concerned the strike will definitely go ahead."
He said the union had not received the "copper-bottomed guarantees" it had been seeking.He said the union had not received the "copper-bottomed guarantees" it had been seeking.
The only assurances received so far were related to jobs and transfers and covered only the period of administration, he added.The only assurances received so far were related to jobs and transfers and covered only the period of administration, he added.
It would be incomprehensible to disrupt the lives of millions of Londoners and lose their members significant amounts of pay when all of the assurances they have asked for have been given London mayor Ken LivingstoneIt would be incomprehensible to disrupt the lives of millions of Londoners and lose their members significant amounts of pay when all of the assurances they have asked for have been given London mayor Ken Livingstone
He warned of a second 72-hour strike on 10 September if the issue was not resolved.He warned of a second 72-hour strike on 10 September if the issue was not resolved.
The RMT predicts the Tube network would "grind to a halt" as a result of the industrial action.The RMT predicts the Tube network would "grind to a halt" as a result of the industrial action.
A spokesman said services would still run, but any problems with maintenance of trains, tracks or signalling would not get repaired. A spokesman said services would still run, but any problems with maintenance of trains, tracks or signalling would not be repaired.
"If anything goes wrong, it will stay wrong," he said."If anything goes wrong, it will stay wrong," he said.
On Friday London mayor Ken Livingstone said all Metronet employees had been given written assurances that there would be no reduction in jobs or transfers of employees from Metronet. But on Friday, London mayor Ken Livingstone said all Metronet employees had been given written assurances that there would be no reduction in jobs or transfers of employees from Metronet.
Mr Livingstone also said they had been assured that their pensions would be fully protected.Mr Livingstone also said they had been assured that their pensions would be fully protected.
He said: "It would be incomprehensible to disrupt the lives of millions of Londoners and lose their members significant amounts of pay when all of the assurances they have asked for have been given."He said: "It would be incomprehensible to disrupt the lives of millions of Londoners and lose their members significant amounts of pay when all of the assurances they have asked for have been given."
A Transport for London spokesperson said: "We have been informed that the TSSA and Amicus Section of Unite trade unions will be meeting on Monday and we fully expect them to call off the strike as they have received all of the assurances they have requested. Howard Collins, deputy chief operating officer for London Underground, said: "We have satisfied all the RMT's demands and we are very keen to get around the table, forget the rhetoric, sort this out, and stop what could be a major disruption to London."
"We would expect the RMT to also consider the letters it has received from the mayor and their direct employers, the Administrator and Metronet, which meet all of the concerns they have raised and in that light not proceed with the strike." He added: "If we do not hold these final discussions - which I think are all possible - from about 4.30pm/5pm we will have to start running services down and there will be no trains running on the sub-surface and the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines."