Millions of commuters and visitors to London face travel chaos today after talks aimed at averting a 48-hour strike by Tube workers broke down.
Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out from 7pm today until 7pm on Thursday, bringing the network to a standstill.
London’s mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) have put in place a series of contingency plans aimed at helping commuters get to work, including extra buses, taxi-sharing and schemes to lead cyclists across the capital.
He said the strike was a “ludicrous and unnecessary disruption” to the capital and criticised union leaders.
The mayor said: “Londoners and commuters trying to do their level best to cope with the most challenging economic climate for a long time will be furious at this decision.
“It is quite simply outrageous for the leadership of the RMT to ask their members, the majority of whom did not vote for this strike, to take part in this ludicrous and unnecessary disruption to our city.
“I and TfL are determined to do as much as is humanly possible to ease the journeys of the millions of Londoners whose lives will be disrupted by this strike action.
“Our plans call for a team effort over the next few days by everyone in this great city to ensure we keep the capital running.” He said a “myriad of organisations and individuals” had agreed to lay on free services, lead cycle rides, drive extra services and marshal shared taxi ranks.
Plans also include extra buses, access to all Greater London national rail services with Oyster cards, taxi sharing at major rail stations, additional cycle parking and a free River shuttle service.
The RMT confirmed the strike action after marathon, 10-hour talks failed to produce a breakthrough to a bitter dispute over jobs and pay.
Mr Johnson said: “We will do our utmost to keep Londoners moving while the implacable RMT continue to posture.
“My message to the RMT is that strike action will not move the prospect of a deal an inch closer.
“I urge them to stop disrupting the lives of millions of people, put the needs of their members and of Londoners first, get back to the table and reach an agreement.”
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the union had made every effort during the talks to reach agreement with London Underground over job losses and a pay deal.
He said: “Not only could the management side not reach an agreement on the kind of deal needed to end this dispute, they also found it difficult to stick to existing agreements on redundancies.
“The strike will now go ahead and we expect it to be solidly supported.” The union balloted up to 10,000 of its members, including drivers, station staff and maintenance workers.
London Underground tabled an improved pay offer during talks last Friday and had urged the union to call off the strike, which will cause huge disruption across the capital.
Transport commissioner Peter Hendy said LU had offered a two-year, above inflation pay deal as well as providing assurances that the organisation was taking every possible step to avoid compulsory redundancies.
He said the RMT had insisted that two workers dismissed for serious disciplinary offences should be reinstated and said union officials had also introduced a “new and inappropriate” issue towards the end of yesterday’s marathon talks.
“We utterly condemn the RMT leadership’s outrageous decision to call for strike action despite us providing assurances that we are doing everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies and putting forward an improved two-year, above inflation pay offer,” he said.
“The RMT’s leadership has shown yet again that no matter how far an offer is made they would rather strike than talk. Their attitude is a slap in the face to all hard-working Londoners and businesses struggling through a deep recession.”
Mr Hendy said LU had contacted the conciliation service ACAS asking it to contact the union and arrange urgent talks to try to head off the strike.
Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said it was “reckless for the RMT to hold the capital to ransom in this way” during a recession.
“Londoners will not thank the RMT for putting their jobs and businesses at risk.
“All a strike will guarantee delivering is a huge headache and a hefty bill for Londoners.”
PA