Tube strike called off after winning concessions

Rail unions RMT and TSSA have called off their proposed three-day strike on London Underground after winning a number of concessions from management on health and safety issues.

The strike would have cost the City of London and London businesses an estimated £4.5 billion. The proposal to strike received a massive mandate from members of both unions, with over 80% of those who returned their ballot papers voting to strike.

The strike even received support from London Evening Standard journalist Andrew Gilligan who admitted the unions had a strong case on health and safety issues.

Members of both unions, while accepting reluctantly to call off the action, are remaining vigilant. They are aware that management will come back in a few months to attack ticket office jobs and attempt to bring in casualisation and security guards on the Underground. Unfortunately security guards outside of traffic hours have been accepted on the ex-Silverlink overground stations. All these attacks must be resisted and the introduction of security guards also must be reversed.

Members are resolved to strike if any attacks are made on health and safety or jobs in the coming months by London Underground management or the Mayor.

Reg Johnstone, RMT