Tube staff to strike

London Underground workers are to take six days of strike action in an escalating row over the sacking of two Tube drivers, threatening travel chaos for millions of passengers, it was announced today.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said its driver members on the Tube will walk out for between nine and 24 hours from Monday May 16 to Friday May 20 and again from Monday June 13 to Friday June 17.

The strikes will effectively disrupt the Tube over a period of two weeks, with the union saying the action will have a “major impact” on services.

The move follows a 2-1 vote in favour of industrial action by RMT members in protest at the dismissal of Northern Line driver Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas, a Bakerloo Line driver.

Both men have taken a case of unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal.