TUBE USERS FACE TRAVEL MISERY

The industrial action will begin at 6pm on September 3 when staff belonging to the RMT transport union and to the Unite union stage a 72-hour strike.

Then, Tube staff belonging to the TSSA transport union will hold a 48-hour strike on September 4 and 5. Finally, the RMT and Unite are holding another 72-hour strike starting at 6pm on September 10.

The workers taking action work for Tube infrastructure company Metronet which went into administration last month having been chosen as one of two private companies to operate the Tube public-private partnership (PPP) plan.

Staff from the three unions voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a ballot, the result of which was announced earlier this week.

Metronet is responsible for maintaining two thirds of the Underground but the RMT said the strikes would affect the whole system.

Unite's assistant general secretary Jennie Bremner said: "The (Metronet) administrator seems intent on continuing Metronet's failed policies. Our hand has been forced and we will now be taking strike action against job cuts and forced transfers."

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said: "All the issues raised by the trade unions are being addressed so there is no reason whatsoever why the lives of millions of Londoners should be disrupted by industrial action.

"Threatening Londoners with two three-day strikes on the Tube when no action is being taken to disadvantage any employees is wrong.

"Mr Livingstone is totally committed to protecting all Metronet staff pensions, and TfL has already agreed to fund any deficiency in pension payments during the period of administration."