Travel chaos avoided as three-day tube strike called off
Thursday, 03 Apr 2008 18:29
London Underground has called off the planned three-day strike
Considerable disruption to travel in London has been avoided after workers called off a planned three-day strike.
The strike action had been due to begin at 18:30 BST on Sunday, with workers staging a 72-hour protest at station closures and the use of agency employees.
RMT union leader Bob Crow said that the strike had been called off after guarantees had been given on a series of safety and staffing issues.
"We were told that agency and security staff and the crazy concept of mobile station supervisors were models for the future, but we now have a guarantee that there will be proper supervision and that the current use of agency and security staff during traffic hours will be brought to an end," Mr Crow said.
"Our members have blocked changes that would have undermined the tube's excellent safety standards, and despite the usual media vilification I hope tube users will recognise that we have successfully defended their safety."
Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) general secretary Gerry Doherty added: "This is a victory for common sense and the travelling public.
"We now must work together to improve industrial relations throughout London Underground to make sure we do not find ourselves facing a fiasco like this in the future."
Today's announcement comes after days of negotiations between the RMT Union, TSSA and tube managers.