More strikes likely as Tube shutdown fails to end pay row

Millions of London commuters endured torturous journeys to work yesterday after a rail workers' strike paralysed the Underground for more than 24 hours.

Only 15 of London Underground's 600 drivers turned up for work in support of the joint action by the Aslef and RMT unions, resulting in a total shutdown of the network.

The pay dispute is likely to lead to a further 24-hour strike next Tuesday. The RMT and Aslef unions have rejected a three per cent pay rise for 18,500 LU employees and the unions are also demanding additional benefits, such as improved pensions and travel concessions on mainline railways.

The industrial action, caused heavy congestion on the capital's streets. Huge traffic jams built up on all roads to the capital as an estimated 50,000 extra cars took to the road. The congestion was worsened when three heavy goods vehicles crashed at the junction of the M1 and M25, causing an 11-mile tailback.

There was intense competition in bus queues and police officers patrolled bus stops in Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith to maintain public order. Other commuters abandoned public transport and walked or cycled to work. As they sat simmering in their cars, the travelling public heard that there had been little, if any, progress in the dispute.

LU insists it has no more money for a rise above three per cent and stressed that the unions' mandate was undermined by the fact that only 3,000 union members voted to strike, while others were not involved in the dispute, did not return ballot papers or voted against the action.

Gerard Vickers, 43, a driver and RMT member, said his pay was about to rise to £31,274 but added that the 3 per cent pay offer was "mingy".

"[It] is not enough when you put it into the context of the conditions of service. We work most bank holidays, weekends and extremely unsocial hours in a dirty and hostile environment. This package has been imposed upon us."

The RMT general secretary, Bob Crow, and the leader of Aslef, Mick Rix, joined an early-morning picket line in Golders Green, north-west London, and blamed London Underground for not accepting mediation.

Mr Crow said: "The strike has been absolutely solid, with RMT members standing shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues from Aslef.

"LU has no excuse not to come to mediation with us. We hope they will now see sense, but if they do not, then next week's strike will go ahead."

Mr Rix, asked whether his union could maintain public support for the strike, said: "Once they start to know the truth about what has taken place, that there has been no meeting in five weeks, I think the public will understand."

Mr Rix said more than 40 complaints of racial discrimination had been received from members since 2000. He claimed three black workers had been suspended because they had made complaints to "very white managers".

The action was condemned by ministers and business leaders. The Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, said: "This strike is completely unnecessary and damaging. It is causing inconvenience to hundreds of thousands of passengers and businesses.

"This is not the way to deal with these issues in this day and age. London Underground have already increased pay by 3 per cent on top of a significant increase last year. If the RMT and Aslef remain unhappy they should talk to management, not go on strike."

The financial analysts Tenon have estimated the cost to London businesses of yesterday's stoppage at £60m in lost output from workers who arrived late or abandoned work for the day. Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, said the strike would cause "huge damage" to businesses and to Britain's image.

But the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he backed the workers' right to strike. He said: "If you have got a management that won't negotiate, the only thing a workforce can do is strike."

Mr Jones also attacked Mr Livingstone for failing to condemn the strike and warned that he was losing the confidence of London businesses. Mr Livingstone blamed LU for refusing to take part in further negotiations.