Europe

London Tube workers set to strike over job cuts

360395_London-Tube

Workers at London’s Underground train system, known as the Tube, are set to stage a 48-hour strike in protest against plans to cut hundreds of jobs.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are to begin striking on Monday evening. The industrial action will last for two days.

The walk-out will close the Piccadilly and Central lines in central London. In addition, other lines will not run into the suburbs and the number of running trains will be reduced.

The workers are demanding that the plans to close all ticket offices and cut 950 jobs be suspended.

However, the authorities say the cuts are necessary in order to modernize the system, and will result in 50 million pounds (USD 81.64 million) in savings annually.

The RMT and London Underground failed to reach an agreement despite having held more than 40 rounds of negotiations through the conciliatory service Acas since the last 48-hour strike in February.

“This dispute is solely about cash-led cuts to jobs and services that would decimate Tube safety,” said Mick Cash, the RMT’s acting general secretary.

Another similar strike is planned for May 5, for 72 hours, if no deal is reached between the parties.

The walkout is the latest in a series of industrial actions on the Tube since UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s coalition government took office, promising belt-tightening measures to rein in a record deficit.

In January, cleaners at the London Underground staged a two-day strike, demanding better pay and working conditions.

London’s subway, which is the oldest in the world, carries nearly three million passengers per day.

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