Misery for millions as London tube strike WILL go ahead from tomorrow

Forecasts ahead of Tube workers’ strike over pay show little expectation of rain, with some clouds but mostly sunny early morning and evenings – ideal for either walking or waiting at a bus stop for hours.

The strike is a result of disputes over the introduction of Night Tubes in September, as well as the annual pay package offered to Transport for London (TfL) workers.

There will be no Tube service at all on the London Underground network.

Strikes on London Underground services will take place this Wednesday (July 8) until Friday (July 10).

Talks are still ongoing between the unions and management at the conciliation service ACAS to try to avert the strike action before the strike begins. Unions – the RMT, TSSA, ASLEF and Unite – are unhappy about the pay being offered to work overnight and how shifts will be rostered.

An Aslef spokesman said the ultimatum was “playground stuff” and talks have now broken down.

Finn Brennan of Aslef, which represents the majority of train drivers, added: “LU’s behaviour is weird – this was not a serious offer”.

When the strikes were first announced, Steve Griffiths, London Underground’s chief operating officer, said: “We have been in discussions with the unions since February, and are still in the midst of negotiations. Having made no offer for three months, they give four unions one afternoon to consider a new offer”, he said. It will make life easier for everyone, cut journey times, create jobs and boost the economy.

The entire London Underground service, excluding the DLR and London Overground lines, will be shut down; a total of 11 lines and 260 stations closed.

“With the copious amount of technology we now have on offer, it is advisable for London office workers to stay put during the strike and work remotely instead of trying to battle it in to the office via another means of transport”.

No tube services will run from Wednesday evening until the end of Thursday should the strike go ahead, but the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and other rail services into the capital will still operate. Some staff will actually work fewer nights than they do now because we have hired 137 more train operators specifically for the Night Tube.

Managers have tabled a “final” offer, including an average 2% rise this year and £2,000 for drivers on the new all-night service.

“We received no response to this from the union leaderships”.