Thousands of tube drivers and staff are threatening to
strike if London Underground presses ahead with plans to part privatise the
tube service.
The 9,000 members of the railway unions ASLEF, RMT and
TSSA are threatening to strike because they fear the proposals would make the
tube unsafe.
The unions have written to London Underground demanding it
abandons plans to partially fund the tube with money from private
organisations. If it hasn’t done so by
Thursday, then the unions will ballot members.
“These proposals are going to make it unsafe for our
members and Lord Cullen’s inquiry into the Paddington disaster is likely to
recommend that there is no further fragmentation of the rail industry,” said
assistant general secretary Bob Crow.
“We are calling on London Underground not to make any
decision until the report is published.”
A spokesman for LU said: “This is a government policy and
London Underground, being a government-owned company, has no choice but to go
through with it.”
By Richard Staines
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