LONDON UNDERGROUND management and unions stepped up their war of words today as the latest in a series of Tube strikes caused severe disruption across the network.


Popular on LondonNet


Rail, Maritime and Transport union leader Bob Crow hit out at what he called London Underground’s “lies” over the level of service available during the 24 hour strike, which started on Sunday evening and continues until 6.30pm tonight.

“[They] have been reduced to their usual well-rehearsed lies over services they claim are running, but it is pure fantasy and simply misleads Londoners,” said Crow.

“The capital is locked down this morning across the board.”

Undergound managing director Mike Brown had a different take.

“Londoners will face some disruption,” he admitted, “but we intend to continue to run services on nearly all Tube lines, meaning that people will be able to get around.”

The RMT and the TSSA unions are battling to save 800 mainly ticket office jobs that London Underground want to get rid of and say that if they give in, the company will simply come back with even more redundancies.

“If we don’t stand and fight now there will be far worse to come as the combination of staff cuts and failing infrastructure drags the Underground from crisis to crisis,” said Crow.

Talks between unions and management broke down towards the end of last week, though both sides say they are happy to start negotiations again ahead of a possible walk out over Christmas.