London Tube strike: Underground set for chaos day after Platinum Jubilee weekend as workers walkout
TUBE staff will strike across the Underground as commuters return to work the day after the Queen's Jubilee weekend.
Hardline union bosses will hold London hostage yet again as they demand a "modern 21st century Tube".
The move will result in huge disruption across the capital as strikers hobble public transport after the long weekend.
Some 4,000 workers are expected to down tools on Monday, June 6.
The action will start a minute after midnight and last for 24 hours.
It will likely force the closure of almost every station in zone 1.
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'Above ground' stations can remain open, meaning shuttle services could run.
Elsewhere, union RMT has announced a ban on overtime from next Friday, June 3 - the second day of the celebrations - until July 10.
It piles on misery for Londoners, who are facing two significant Tube strikes within just days. Another walkout is planned at Euston and Green Park stations on Friday, June 3.
Green Park is the nearest Tube station for Buckingham Palace.
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The union claims Transport for London is slashing jobs and threatening staff pensions.
But Andy Lord, TfL’s chief operating officer, said the accusation is groundless - as no job cuts are planned and around 15,000 members of staff are currently receiving an 8.4 per cent pay rise.
And in a blast at strikers, he said the action is "designed to disrupt the Jubilee."
“We are extremely disappointed that the RMT has announced unnecessary strike action on June 6 and share Londoners’ frustrations that this, and the linked action short of strike, has been designed to disrupt the Jubilee weekend," he said.
STRIKES HEAP MISERY ON LONDON
“It is particularly surprising that the RMT has threatened to spoil this moment when the nation is coming together, as nobody has or will lose their jobs as a result of the proposals we have set out and there have been no proposals on pension changes.
“If the RMT chooses to go ahead with this unnecessary action, we will do everything we can to minimise any disruption and ensure everyone can still make the most of the capital throughout the Jubilee weekend.
“The devastating impact of the pandemic on TfL finances has made a programme of change urgently necessary but this change is being delivered in a way that ensures nobody loses their jobs.
"We’re calling on the RMT to work with us, rather than disrupting London’s recovery and our customers, who deserve better.
"We’ve been in regular talks with the RMT and are hoping to find an urgent resolution to this dispute to ensure they can call off this unnecessary action.”
The strike is designed to disrupt the Jubilee weekend... we are extremely disappointed
But RMT general secretary Mick Lynch hit back: “TfL is trying to bulldoze through 600 job losses on the London Underground and our members are not prepared to accept that.
“Station staff play a crucial role in serving the travelling public and were heroes during the 7/7 terrorist attacks.
“Instead of seeking to cut jobs, TfL and Mayor Sadiq Khan need to put further pressure on the government to secure increased funding for the network so we can have a properly staffed modern 21st century Tube.”
Mr Khan said last week the decision to take action over the Jubilee weekend "sent the wrong message".
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It's feared the plans for June 6 will likely cause as much trouble as walkouts in early March.
The two 24-hour network-wide protests earlier this year caused chaos, with 200 stations closed and huge queues for buses and taxis.
