London Underground staff to stage two more walkouts

London Underground workers are to stage a 16-hour strike from 5 February and a 15-hour walkout two days later.

The latest strikes come amid a long-running row over jobs and Tube ticket office closures.

The action has been called after lengthy talks with London Underground bosses, under the chairmanship of conciliation service ACAS, failed to break the deadlock.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) staged a 24-hour strike earlier this month which crippled Tube services.

And the unions warned on Friday that further strikes would be be staged in March once dates have been decided.

More than 3,000 RMT station staff were balloted for action over the impact on safety if almost 900 frontline workers are axed alongside the closure of ticket offices.

The unions say job cuts have already left safety on a "knife edge", with constant reports of overcrowding on stations and platforms.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: "RMT will not stand by while safety is compromised on London Underground off the back of cash-led cuts to staffing levels that the union has warned would have a serious, lasting and corrosive impact for staff and passengers alike.

"That is why our members are taking this further action.

"RMT members on the London Underground stations see day in and day out the toxic impact of the job cuts programme and they are reporting back that it is horrific.

"It has now also been shown that at management level there is agreement with the union that the cuts have been a disastrous mistake.

"With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) the constant overcrowding on stations and platforms it is only a matter of time before there is a major tragedy if we don't act decisively.

"Our dispute is about taking action to haul back the cuts machine and put safety back at the top of the agenda.

"The union remains available for further serious talks."

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "Our negotiating team has been having talks with London Underground at ACAS during the past fortnight.

"On Monday, we will be meeting with our London Undergroun workplace representatives to discuss the outcome of these discussions and decide our next steps. Until then, we will be making no further comment."