Tube strike talks break down

Talks aimed at averting a series of strikes by London Underground (LU) workers from next week have broken down and the industrial action will go ahead as planned, union leaders said yesterday.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said LU had failed to remove the threat of cuts to safety and safe staffing levels which would have allowed "meaningful discussions" to take place.

Thousands of Tube staff are due to walk out from next Monday evening in protest at the plans to cut 800 jobs, threatening travel chaos in the capital.