Tube workers to stage 24-hour strike

Workers on one of London Underground's busiest Tube lines are to stage a 24-hour strike in a row over new rosters, it was announced today.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said its members on the Victoria Line will walk out from 2130 hrs on Monday 5 October.

The union said new rosters had been imposed that significantly increased the workload on staff.

The move, coupled with almost daily service disruption, had made life "intolerable" for workers, claimed the union.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "The imposition of these new rosters is all about management trying to carve up the staff working day to fit in with bad decisions that they have made.

"This underhand attempt to extract an extra 20 per cent from the working day out of our members has provoked this action on the Victoria Line and we would urge the management side to re-open serious negotiations to resolve this issue."

A spokesman for Transport for London said: "London Underground consulted fully with unions earlier this year on plans to improve efficiency on the Victoria Line for passengers.

"Rather than take strike action, the RMT should continue with the joint working party set up to iron out any issues."