Tube strike attacked by Government

THE GOVERNMENT unexpectedly attacked the trade union which called a 48-hour strike on the London Underground.

John Reid, the Transport Minister, said it was "unreasonable and unnecessary" and described the demands of the Rail Maritime and Transport union as unrealistic. Yesterday's attack boosted Tube bosses, who said the strike was a flop, with about two-thirds of services running. But thousands of rush-hour commuters suffered disruption.

Mr Reid said: "The strike is unreasonable, unnecessary and damaging to the long-term future of London Underground and its employees ... When the Government is working for resources to revitalise and modernise the Tube, this does nothing to help and everything to undermine public support. It is regrettable so many people are being inconvenienced but fortunate that many union members have turned out to give the public a service."

The intervention by Mr Reid, who is in the T&G transport union, was a blow for the RMT. On Sunday Glenda Jackson, Under-Secretary of State for Transport, said the Government would not intervene.

The strike began at 6pm on Sunday and is to end at the same time today. The union wants assurances there will be no compulsory redundancies or changes to employment conditions under plans for partial privatisation.

Mr Reid said the demands were "totally unrealistic". Assurances had been given over safeguarding terms and conditions, employment rights, pensions and free travel.

"The Government will not be deflected from its determination to modernise the Tube and give Londoners the Underground service they deserve," he said.

LU said 65 per cent of trains were running by noon yesterday and only nine stations were closed. Some 58 per cent of trains ran in the morning rush hour, when 25 stations were shut. A spokesman said LU was running a near-perfect service on some lines.