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Tube strike: Talks to avert next strike begin Tube strike: Talks to avert next strike begin
(about 2 hours later)
Talks aimed at averting a new round of strikes are being held to try and resolve a dispute over plans to close all Tube ticket offices and cut jobs. Talks aimed at averting a new round of strikes on the Tube over the plans to close the ticket offices and cut jobs are under way at Acas.
Tube services were disrupted for 48 hours after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union began strike action on Monday night.Tube services were disrupted for 48 hours after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union began strike action on Monday night.
The union plans to strike for three days from 21:00 GMT on 5 May. The union plans to strike for three days from 21:00 BST on 5 May.
Negotiations between the RMT and London Underground (LU) are being held at the conciliation service Acas. Negotiations between the RMT and London Underground (LU) are being held at the conciliation service.
Transport for London (TfL) has said its proposals to close all ticket offices, which would lead to 960 job losses, would save £50m a year. Transport for London (TfL) has said its proposals to close all ticket offices - which would lead to 960 job losses - would save £50m a year.
Union offerUnion offer
Phil Hufton, LU's chief operating officer, said the proposals were about increasing the number of staff in ticket halls. Meanwhile, the TSSA, Unite and RMT unions have been asked to take action short of a strike from Tuesday until further notice.
He said: "It is not so much about the ticket office it's about the staffing within the ticket halls." A statement from TfL Unions Together said that from Tuesday members have been asked to withdraw their "goodwill and co-operation" by including not working beyond contractual hours and not volunteering for travel ambassador duties.
The RMT said it would have suspended the latest strike action if LU had agreed to a public consultation over the plans which do not include any compulsory redundancies. Phil Hufton, LU's chief operating officer, said the modernisation proposals were about increasing the number of staff members in ticket halls.
John Leach, from the RMT, said it was up to LU whether strikes went ahead. He said: "It is not so much about the ticket office, it's about the staffing within the ticket halls."
"We offered them an offer last Monday to suspend the action if they would suspend and halt the implementation of these booking office closures and the job cuts," he said. The RMT said it would have suspended the latest strike action if LU had agreed to a public consultation over the plans, which are said not to include any compulsory redundancies.
"They walked away from that offer we are going to be making that offer again." John Leach, from the RMT, said it was up to LU whether further strikes went ahead.
The union, he said, would have suspended its action if the company had agreed to "halt the implementation of these booking office closures and the job cuts".
The RMT and LU have met more than 40 times through Acas since a previous 48-hour strike in February.The RMT and LU have met more than 40 times through Acas since a previous 48-hour strike in February.