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Tube strike on as Acas talks break down

Thursday 02 September 2010
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Talks aimed at averting a series of strikes by London Underground workers from next week have broken down and the industrial action will go ahead as planned, union leaders have confirmed.

The TSSA and RMT unions accused management of "sabotaging" talks at the conciliation service Acas on Thursday.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said bosses had failed to remove the threat of cuts to safety and safe staffing levels which would have allowed "meaningful discussions" to take place.

Thousands of RMT members working on the Tube are due to launch the walkouts from Monday evening in protest at plans to cut 800 jobs, threatening transport disruptions in the capital.

TSSA members employed by Tube Lines will strike next Tuesday in a separate row over pay. Managers and clerical workers will walk out from 9am to 5pm with an indefinite overtime ban.

Mr Crow said: "We could sit back and wait for a major disaster while safety cuts are bulldozed through, turning the Tube into a death trap, or we can stand up and fight for passenger and staff safety."

Howard Collins of LU blamed the unions for the break down in talks, claiming: "They imposed unreasonable preconditions that they knew would render constructive discussions impossible."

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