Tube Strike

Transport misery for millions of commuters as Tube services ended at 6.30pm.

17:03 06 August 2015

The strike on London’s Underground has officially begun. As the Tube services ended at 6.30pm, millions of workers were forced to walk or use pedal power to go home. The walkout, which was staged by Tube staff, also means no underground trains until Friday.

 

Extra buses will be laid on but heavy traffic is to be expected if people switch to cars.

 

Meanwhile, London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, has made it clear that no more money will be offered to resolve the row over pay and conditions. Following his visit to military veterans, he reiterated that he will not meet union leaders and said he was “not fussed” about the new service starting on September 12.

 

"I want it starting in the autumn - what I am fussed about is the offer being put to union members.

"I am not going to authorise any more money. Most people would recognise that this is a very generous deal."

 

Meanwhile, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: "Our members have rejected the latest offer from the company because they are forcing through new rosters without agreement and offer no firm commitments on work life balance for train drivers.

 

"We support night Tube. London needs it. We remain prepared to talk at any time to try to find common ground but by forcing these new rosters on train drivers and acting outside of our agreed way of working senior management are making it even harder to resolve this dispute.