Strike could be stopped

Hopes were raised today that the 24-hour Tube strike due to begin at 6am on Friday may be suspended.

It follows a two-hour meeting between Bob Crow, leader of the RMT union, and Metronet - the private sector consortium which sacked five maintenance staff after empty cans of beer and lager were found in a Farringdon mess room.

The RMT is demanding their reinstatement, saying there is "no evidence whatsoever" to connect those sacked with the alcohol.

Mr Crow described today's meeting with Metronet director Ian Prosser as "very cordial", and said the five sacked workers were taking their cases to industrial tribunals. "The company said today they will abide by the outcome of the tribunal and if it is in the workers' favour they will be reinstated," he said.

However, he emphasised that at the moment the strike remains on. "We are waiting on a letter from Metronet. It all depends whether the letter endorses what was told to us today," he said.

The RMT's controlling executive will meet tomorrow to decide whether to go ahead with the strike or suspend the action pending the tribunals. There is no date for the hearings. The strike threatens to cause chaos on five lines, including the Circle and District.

A spokesman for Metronet said today that the workers remain sacked, but added that the company "strongly supports" the issue being settled at an employment tribunal.

He added: "Metronet has agreed to fully engage with the tribunal process and to abide by its outcome."

Although the men were not accused of drinking on duty, the claim is that they were "aware" alcohol was being stored in the room, an equally sackable offence.