A CHRISTMAS truce in the Tube dispute was offered today as millions of travellers faced another day of strike action.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the leaders of the two main rail unions, Gerry Doherty of the TSSA and Bob Crow of the RMT, said they did not personally want to disrupt the holiday season with more strike action.
A fourth strike is planned for Monday November 29 but TSSA leader Gerry Doherty said: ‘Although our members will make the final decision, I will not be urging them to take any action during the festive season.
The TSSA statement added: ‘His comments effectively mean that there will be no strike action between Nov 29 and Monday Jan 3 when people return to work after the long Christmas break.’
The TSSA leader and RMT leader Bob Crow dismissed TfL claims that 50% of tube services were running today as ‘lies’.
There was however no Xmas truce mood on the picket line.
RMT pickets at Acton Town were determined to defend their jobs and conditions.
RMT rep Hughie Walsh said: ‘I think we need to up the ante in this dispute.
‘Management do not care about stations being unmanned – how can they say they are providing a service when 80 stations are closed?
RMT Acton Town rep Tony Alan told News Line: ‘I have never known a dispute where so many people have given up so much money without getting something in return.
‘Safety on the Tube network is paramount. I can’t imagine my wife or daughter using unmanned stations, it’s turning to bandit country.’
At Rayners Lane station there was a determined picket of TSSA members.
Renu Ghai a TSSA member told News Line ‘We have reports of 100 stations closed.
‘There is no Piccadilly line service to Uxbridge.
‘We can’t afford to lose 800 jobs because it is not safe – passengers can end up on the tracks or can be assaulted, or robbed.
‘What can you do with no staff on the platforms. It’s dangerous.
‘We are already short staffed, with no staff on many stations.’
Roger Wilson on the picket line told News Line: ‘We had an incident at Ruislip Manor station where an elderly female passenger was injured while boarding the train which led to a head injury.
‘The driver was unable to raise anybody because the station was unmanned.
‘He then proceeded to Eastcote which was also unmanned.
‘The train then stopped at the next station Rayners Lane where station staff attended the injured passenger who was unconscious on the carriage floor.
‘Station staff called for an ambulance and attended the injured person until the ambulance arrived.
‘You can imagine what would happen if there were no staff on the stations.’
An RMT union rep at Finsbury Park told News Line ‘We need a general strike.
‘The government is so weak.
‘It is split and we have to widen the split.’
Another two reps for Finsbury Park and Leicester Square groups added: ‘Our strike is getting stronger without a doubt.
‘The public mood has changed since the spending review. There is much more support.’
At the Elephant and Castle picket line RMT National Secretary Steve Scott said: ‘I’m here to show solidarity with my colleagues. A group of us have come down from the national office.’