Tube strike: power workers due to walk out from 8pm this evening

Strike: commuters hit by strike disruption on the District Line earlier this year

1 July 2014

There will be no “visible impact” on the London Underground as power workers prepare to launch an eight day strike this evening, transport bosses said.

But members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and Unite have said expect disruption when they plan to walk out from 8pm in a rover over pensions and working conditions.

They warned the planned eight day strike could have an impact on the Tour de France when the race comes to the capital on July 7.

Transport for London said the industrial strike will not affect any tube services and other members of staff have been trained to do the power workers role instead.

Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: "This dispute is over an all-out attack on the power control grade that would hit pensions, length of service and working conditions and damage the futures of this key group of Tube workers. Management's claim that they can run the system without them is both provocative and dangerous.

"These staff are effectively the national grid for London Underground and this action will have the most severe consequences for Tube operations but has been forced on us by management wrecking the earlier talks."

Mr Cash said there was still time to head off the strike.

A Unite spokesman said: "The blame for any disruption will lie with the management because this dispute should have been resolved weeks ago.

"The travelling public faces the very real prospect of their journeys being disrupted because of the irresponsibility of the management."

Richard Jones, London Underground's head of command and control, said: "Due to detailed planning there will be no visible impact on the network should the strike action go ahead.

"We remain committed to discussions with Unite, TSSA and RMT representatives around working terms and conditions for staff in our power control team. I urge them to continue with constructive discussions rather than threaten pointless industrial action."

A spokesman for TfL said they are advising passengers to make their journeys as normal during the strike.

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Tube strike: power workers due to walk out from 8pm this evening

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