Jubilee Line workers to stage 24-hour strikes

London Underground maintenance workers are to stage a series of 24-hour strikes in a row over pay, it was announced today.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union employed by Alstom on the Jubilee line will walk out from 7.29pm next Wednesday and from the same time each Sunday evening from 31 January until further notice.

The union said it was in dispute with the contractors over a pay gap it claimed had grown to thousands of pounds.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Despite lengthy talks aimed at reaching an agreement that ensures that Stratford Market depot fleet staff get the same wages as their brothers and sisters elsewhere on the Underground, Alstom have dug their heels in and left us no option but to take decisive action to break the deadlock.

"Our members' anger over this blatant unfairness is reflected in a 100 per cent vote for strike action and action short of a strike.

"We hope that management will now recognise that they cannot go on treating the Stratford fleet maintenance staff as poor relations and that they will get back round the table and negotiate a fair settlement."

A Transport for London spokesman said: "This is a matter for Tube Lines, its contractors and the RMT and we urge them to resolve the matter quickly without any disruption to Londoners."