About 1,000 maintenance workers on the London Underground will stage two 72-hour strikes in a row over pay and conditions, their union said on Wednesday. The RMT rail union said the workers would walk out between noon on Wednesday August 20 and noon on Saturday August 23. A second strike is planned from noon on Wednesday September 3 and noon on Saturday September 6.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said members working for maintenance firm Tube Lines voted to strike by a margin of three to one to try to get better pay and access to a final salary pension scheme. "Tube Lines has made enormous profits on the backs of our members' hard work, yet they seem to expect that they will accept an inferior deal on pay, pensions and conditions," he said in a statement. A Tube Lines spokeswoman said its proposed 4.95 percent pay rise was its final offer and it would not re-enter talks.
"We are disappointed the RMT is taking this stance and passengers have every right to feel angry over the proposed action," she said. "The RMT's vote against the offer and the length of their proposed action defy reason." Only one in four of those eligible voted in favour of industrial action, she added.
The RMT said the planned strikes would be "crippling" for the Tube network, while Tube Lines said it was too early to say what effect the walkouts would have. Transport for London, which manages transport in the capital, said in a statement: "We hope Tube Lines and the RMT can work together to avoid any unnecessary strike action."