LONDON: London Underground is advising people not totravel on Monday because of a strike by thousands of workers in adispute over jobs and pensions.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk outfor 24 hours, crippling Tube services across the capital.
Transport for London (TfL) said some train services will run but itexpects severe disruption across the network from the start ofservice on Monday to 8 am (0700 GMT) on Tuesday.
Many stations, especially those in central and south London, will be closed, while stations that can be opened may only operate for limited periods.
Other TfL services, including Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground and Trams, are not affected by the industrial action andwill be running but will be busier
TfL said no proposals have been tabled on pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody will lose their jobs because of the proposalsit has set out.
As part of previous funding agreements, the government has requiredTfL to work towards achieving financial sustainability on its operations by April 2023.
TfL has proposed not recruiting into around 500 to 600 posts as theybecome vacant.
Andy Lord, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “I’d like to apologize to London for the impact this strike will have on journeys tomorrow and on Tuesday morning.
“We know it’s going to be damaging to London and the economy at atime when public transport is playing a crucial role in the capital’srecovery.
“While our focus is always on helping everyone travel around Londonwhenever they want, the expected impact of the RMT’s action means wehave to advise people to only travel tomorrow if necessary, as manystations may be closed.
“Alternatives to the Tube, including the bus and rail networks, arelikely to be much busier than usual and we expect the severedisruption caused by this strike to continue into the morning ofTuesday June 7.
“No changes have been proposed to pensions and nobody has or willlose their job as a result of the proposals we have set out. Mymessage to the RMT is this - it’s not too late to call off tomorrow’sstrike action.
“Working with us to find a resolution is the best course of action,avoiding the disruption this strike will cause to Londoners and theeconomy.”
The RMT said that under current proposals, 600 jobs will be lost,working agreements will be torn up and the looming threat to pensionsremains in place.
General secretary Mick Lynch said: “We are demanding a directface-to-face meeting with Mayor Sadiq Khan to sort this mess out.
“There’s no point in our union continuing to sit opposite managementrepresentatives who have neither the inclination nor the authority tonegotiate a settlement, when the power lies with the mayor.
Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce andIndustry, said: “We are extremely disappointed that the RMT hascalled for a mass walkout by TfL workers in such close proximity tothe queen’s jubilee weekend when London will be full of visitors.
“The last two years hit London disproportionately hard and thecapital is desperately trying to claw back some sense of normalityafter a tumultuous two years.
“This strike now puts TfL in a position of having to recommend thatLondoners work from home.
“Ultimately, this will only harm London’s economy and it is time forTfL to sort out their dispute with the RMT so we can get back tobuilding prosperity and showing the world that London is openbusiness.”
