Tube strike causes travel chaos in Havering
STRIKE action by Underground staff has caused closed lines, delayed services and crowded trains this morning.
Services on the District Line have been suspended between Upminster and Barking because of industrial action by the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) unions.
National Express East Anglia train services have also been delayed as more passengers turned to trains to help them get to work.
Disruption is set to continue throughout the day.
The 24-hour strike, which started at 6.29pm yesterday, has been called after budget cuts threatened 800 ticket office jobs.
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Tube unions claimed that the planned cuts will also affect the safety of services.
RMT General secretary Bob Crow said: “We have made every effort to resolve this dispute over safe staffing levels through negotiations and continue to pursue a settlement that will protect the safety of both staff and passengers and the quality of service to Tube users at all times and at all locations.
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“Boris Johnson has said that he will stand up and fight for London against the ConDem Government cuts – that’s exactly what RMT and TSSA members are doing on the tube right in the Mayor’s own back yard.
“Rather than attacking us the Mayor, as chairman of TfL, should instruct his officials to put safety first and withdraw the cuts that they are bulldozing through without agreement and with complete disregard for the consequences.”
However London Mayor Boris Johnson, called the strike “pointless”
“As we saw in the last strike, the belligerent actions of the Union leaderships will not bring London to a halt. They may disrupt Londoners, but they will not stop us from getting around our city. We will keep London moving,” he said.
“This strike is pointless, and I hope that this time - when Londoners beat the strike once again - the RMT and TSSA leaderships will see sense and return to talks to avert further disruption.”
Transport for London has laid on 100 extra buses and increased ferry capacity.
Services are not expected to return to normal until tomorrow morning.
For more information, visit: www.tfl.gov.uk and: www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com
How has the strike affected you? Call the newsdesk on: 020 8477 3902.
