John Thumwood, interviewed near the end of the Northern Line, when the number of people in the carriage had thinned, said he planned to work virtually Thursday, even if he’d have to cancel some meetings.
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“If that was you, I’d be furious, and I’d be furious on your behalf – and lots of people would be furious on your behalf, and they’d all be completely ignored by the mainstream media and called “communists” by the usual suspects”.
“We are ready and willing to be at Acas tomorrow morning to sort this out”.
There are also extra river services, and Transport for London said trams will run a peak-time service all day.
“The responsibility for this strike and the disruption that it will cause rests squarely with London Underground management”, said Finn Brennan, Tube organiser for the Aslef union.
In the post he says TfL offered a last minute pay deal “ultimatum” that did not give the unions enough time to consider the proposals. “I have never been opposed to Night Tube, but it has to be introduced in a way that is fair; that recognises that staff are human beings with lives and families as well as a job”.
Drivers were protesting pay and plans for a new 24-hour service from the London Underground, also known as the Tube, due to start in September.
Steve Griffiths, LU chief operating officer, said: “A night-time Tube service is something Londoners and businesses have been requesting for many years”.
LU has said it has hired an extra 137 night drivers and that many staff would be unaffected by the changes.
Its story has no quote or response from the unions, any train or tube staff, or anyone sympathetic to their position, either to respond or to say why they are striking.
The mobile-based service Uber has been criticised by commuters after fares were said to have doubled in some areas during the strike. Under the new terms that will be implemented on September, he will be required to work a minimum of 14 weeks straight of night duty.
Following last-ditch talks, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Despite strenuous efforts by union negotiators to press London Underground to address the issues of fairness, safety, work/life balance and equality at the heart of this dispute, they have come up with nothing in the talks this afternoon”.
Today the Guardian reported that a union rep posted this message to members: “For 364 days of the year, London Underground staff work hard to keep this city moving”.
“We are going to get on with the night Tube and ultimately this strike will achieve nothing”. Tube drivers have been offered a raise, but concerns remain over working conditions, and union bosses have rejected the offer on the grounds that they weren’t given enough time to think about it.
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It meant commuters had to find alternative means of transport for a second consecutive night.
