London Underground faced with strikes in the build up to Xmas

There are fears of further strikes on the London Underground (LU) after the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) claims two workers are being unfairly treated by management and facing disciplinary action.

As a result, hundreds of workers are to be balloted for strikes over the dispute with action expected to be taken in the build-up to the busy Christmas period.

According to LU bosses, one of the workers (a Bakerloo line driver) breached safety rules, while the other (a Northern Line driver) was suspended for what it described as “unacceptable conduct towards London Underground colleagues”.

Members of the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association have already staged industrial action and another is planned for next weekend over the LU’s plan to cut 800 jobs.

However, talks at the conciliation service ACAS are resuming today, aimed at avoiding next Sunday‘s strike.

The strikes have already been damaging to London’s economy and the London Chamber of Commerce recently said each day the Underground was closed would cost London’s economy £48 million.

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