London’s commuters make do as subway system shut by strike

Workers were striking over plans to make some weekend tube services 24-hours, starting from 12 September.

Transport for London says there’ll be “no Tube service at all on Thursday”, with the disruption expected to continue into Friday (local time).

A 24 hour strike which has affected the London Underground is in force, with absolutely no tube services running at all today, creating havoc for London’s financial district, which is largely serviced by public transport services, meaning that a large number of employees can not arrive at their offices today at all.

Members of four rail unions representing staff from managers to drivers have joined the walkout, unhappy with the pay and terms offered by London Underground to implement a 24-hour service at weekends on a few lines, which is due to begin in September.

Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the strike as “unjustified and unacceptable”, adding: “It will hit millions of families across the capital and cause chaos for businesses”.

Business groups said the strike will cost the capital’s economy tens of millions of pounds.

Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a Commons motion expressing dismay at the “disgraceful” treatment of Tube workers and calling on the Mayor of London to withdraw the “imposition” of night working.

London Underground’s managing director Mike Brown apologized for the disruption but insisted it was a “remarkably fair” pay offer.

“We want to reward our staff for its delivery and have been open and transparent in our negotiations with the trade unions – but unfortunately they have failed to engage”.

Transport for London (TfL) is running extra services on its bus and river networks throughout the disruption to try to cope with the surge in demand.

British Labour MP Dianne Abbot tweeted her understanding of the unions’ arguments for the London Underground tube strike.

“We’ve shown we can give them a bloody nose”, Tracy told Socialist Worker.

Union leaders in turn accused London Underground management of producing the proposal too late and failing to convince negotiators that safety, fairness and a balance between work and life would be protected.

With Murray leading by two sets in a match he would go on to win, a message on Centre Court’s scoreboard said: “Due to industrial action, TfL advises that Underground services will be severely disrupted from the early evening onwards”.

So, they can protest, but not strike – i.e. employ the only negotiating tool they have, the ability to withdraw their labour.

This offer was rejected by unions on Wednesday.

“We have got to get on with the night Tube”.

If it doesn’t work, check out the site of Joe Watson and Aryven Arasen, who put the map together.

One of the four unions involved in the negotiations, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) blamed “intransigence” on the part of London Underground for the strike action going ahead, despite months of talks.