TUBE STRIKE FURY AT UNION BARONS

BUSINESSES SLAM ‘DISGRACEFUL’ WALKOUT ON KEY DAY FOR WEST END

UNION chiefs came under fire today after a Tube strike prevented thousands of commuters from getting to work and dealt a heavy blow to the London economy on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The RMT walk-out shut the Piccadilly line — including Tube services to and from

Heathrow — and the central section of the Central line that serves Oxford Street and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

Businesses condemned the strike as “disgraceful” while Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This is the last thing that Londoners need.” But services did run on the Victoria, Jubilee and Northern lines, which were also targeted by the RMT, although not as frequently as normal. There was a normal service on sub-surface lines such as the District and Circle, which were not subjected to union action. Transport for London said that by 9am it was running 58 per cent of normal services on the Tube. Passenger numbers were down by about 30 per cent on last Friday but bus journeys were up four per cent.

This is likely to mean about two million journeys throughout today on the Tube, compared with about 2.6 million last Friday. There were pickets outside some Tube stations and the RMT declared that the walk-out — over the drivers’ rosters for the Night Tube — was “rock solid”. But TfL bosses said the RMT had not been as successful as it had hoped and believes some members turned up for work.

Andy Lord, managing director of London Underground, said: “I’m disappointed that we

have got the action in the first place but quite pleased with the level of service we have provided. Clearly it’s disruptive and we wanted to avoid it if we could.

“The Piccadilly line and the Central line are the most impacted. We have a full end-to-end service on the other lines, but with reduced frequencies.

“I’m very, very sorry for our customers and businesses in London who are being impacted and inconvenienced by the strike. I’m truly sorry that anybody has been impacted by a completely unnecessary piece of industrial action. Not a single driver has lost their job and not a single driver has been forced on to new rosters.”

The strike is due to continue until 4.30am tomorrow. This morning a small number of trains ran between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters on the northern end of the Piccadilly line.

But Mr Lord said it was “unlikely” that further sections of the Piccadilly line would reopen. Nor did he expect the restart of Central line services between White City and Liverpool Street.

The RMT’s next strike will begin tomorrow on the Victoria and Central lines in a bid to impact the restart of the Night Tube. A dress rehearsal tonight will indicate how many drivers will be expected to turn up for work tomorrow night.

TfL expects to run a reduced Night Tube service on the Victoria line but is uncertain about the Central line, which has more RMT members.

Commuters, business leaders and politicians rounded on the RMT, saying it was harming London as it hoped today’s Black Friday sales would deliver a boost from the pandemic downturn.

Simon French, chief economist at City brokers Panmure Gordon, said the strike could cost central London about £10 million in lost sales.

Mr Shapps told LBC: “I absolutely appeal to the union to not disrupt everyone’s lives. We have had enough disruption through coronavirus.”

Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said: “It means that visitors cannot come in and nor can workers and they are the two sets of people who keep London

running.” Jace Tyrrell, chief executive at New West End Company, said: “The Tube strikes are a devastating blow to London’s West End as businesses were looking to capitalise on what should have been a phenomenal Friday in the run up to Christmas.” London First chief executive John Dickie said: “In the run-up to Christmas, as London’s businesses and Londoners try to recover from the pandemic, it is self-indulgent.” Passenger Costas Rico, 25, who was heading to work at Heathrow but was forced to make other plans when he

discovered Northfields station was closed, said: “It’s ridiculous. We are trying to recover economically from a pandemic and now this. It’s not right.” Retail worker Leanne Smallman, 30, said: “I think it’s terrible the Tube workers are stopping the public going about their business over petty grievances.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members have spoken this morning and it’s time for London Underground to start listening. This is just the start of a programme of action and the Mayor and his officials need to recognise our determination to defend progressive and family-friendly working practices. We remain available for talks.”