Tube Strike Called Off But Others Threatened

A 48-hour Tube strike due to begin on Saturday night has been called off but a separate dispute still risks disruption in a week's time.

Members of the RMT union were due to walk out from 9pm tomorrow in a dispute over station staffing - placing services at risk of disruption into Monday.

But the union said: "As a result of a long and hard fought campaign we have been able to make significant progress in the talks which has enabled us to now suspend all industrial action in the station staffing dispute.

"The breakthrough has been secured through the solidarity of the workforce and their willingness to take industrial action to defend jobs and safety."

The row centred on work roster changes and ticket office closures.

The RMT had earlier confirmed that London Underground maintenance staff were to stage 12 and 24-hour strikes in a separate dispute over safety - with the first walkout due next Friday at 6.30am, for 24-hours.

The union said this stoppage would be followed by seven further walkouts running up to June - despite the prospect of a breakthrough at peace talks planned for next week.

Some 1,500 maintenance workers are involved in the row, which the RMT said was over "basic safety issues".

Its general secretary Mick Cash said: "Nobody should dare to under-estimate the severe impact on track safety that the changes bulldozed through by London Underground have unleashed and which have forced our members to take a prolonged period of industrial action to protect both themselves and their colleagues.

"From a situation where everyone knew how to access the track, we now have anarchy and uncertainty.

"Into this mix we have engineering train movements that we believe will lead to someone being killed and this union will not sit back and wait for a disaster to happen.

"These ill-conceived and lethal changes to track access must be reversed. RMT remains available for talks."

Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer at London Underground (LU), said: "Talks are already planned with the RMT union next week at Acas to resolve this issue.

"Safety is always our top priority and we have robust and comprehensive procedures in place to ensure that any staff working on the track are kept safe and are aware of any train movements.

"We have talked to our trade unions extensively about the changes we have made to track access for engineering work and will continue these discussions next week."

On Wednesday, the union urged its London Underground members to accept a deal for the planned all-night service in the capital which has been delayed by a dispute over pay and conditions for staff - and which resulted in strike action last year.

Its 10,000 members will start voting on the proposals next Thursday.

Three other unions are yet to announce their views (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) .