London In Chaos as Subway Workers Strike Gains Momentum
LONDON, July 9 (UPI) — A one-day strike Thursday by employees of London’s train and subway employees has paralyzed the city and caused delays throughout the area.
Four million people rely on the London subway, known as the Underground or the Tube, daily, and a walkout over pay and working conditions by employees of First Great Western—the train-operating company—has snarled the flow of traffic. Two hundred additional buses are currently in service, and those who need not travel during peak times have been urged to stay home.
The strike began late Wednesday when members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite walked out in a 24-hour action. The train drivers’ union Aslef began its own 24-hour stoppage immediately afterward. The strike coincides with a two-day strike by First Great Western staff, which has reduced train service between London and western destinations in Britain.
Among the casualties of the job action is the annual tennis tournament in the London suburb of Wimbledon, which has reported fewer daily tickets sold.
All striking unions rejected a “final pay offer” Wednesday which included a two percent pay raise, and a bonus to weekend subway drivers.
London commuters relied on buses, bicycles, taxis, river boat services and simply walking to get to their destinations Thursday. During a radio interview Wednesday,London Mayor Boris Johnson called the pay offer rejected by workers “a very, very fair deal.”
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