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Updated Wednesday, September 8, 2010 1:14 pm TWN, By Stefano Ambrogi, Reuters

UK Tube strike brings chaos for commuters

LONDON -- Millions of commuters across the British capital struggled to get to work on Tuesday as a 24-hour strike by workers on London's underground rail system crippled much of the network, hurting the city's convalescent economy. Passengers took to bikes, buses, walked, or made use of extra boat services on the River Thames that runs through the city in a bid to beat the stoppage, called in protest at 800 job cuts driven by austerity measures.

The London Chamber of Commerce estimates each day the underground is shut will cost the capital's economy 48 million pounds (US$73.7 million).

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said every underground line was suspended or running a skeleton service after “rock solid” support for the walkouts in protest at staffing cuts.

The RMT said the job cuts were just “the tip of the iceberg” as the center-right coalition government prepares 25 percent cuts in spending to tackle a record budget deficit.

Governments across Europe face labor unrest as they take unpopular measures to curb state spending that soared in the 2008-09 global financial crisis.

Britain, which had to bail out its giant financial sector, is planning the harshest austerity drive in decades, with pay, job and spending cuts and pension reform looming. Ministries have been ordered to make average cuts of about 25 percent and told to suggest budget savings of up to 40 percent.

Thousands of members of the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association walked out on Monday evening in protest at plans to axe jobs in stations on the publicly-funded network.

Underground operator Transport for London (TFL) said, however, that services were running on a number of Tube lines and that contingency plans put in place to beat the industrial action were working.

Transport chiefs said additional bus services had been provided, along with extra capacity on river boat services, marshaled taxi ranks, and guided cycle rides.

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	Commuters queue for water taxis against a backdrop of Britain's Houses of Parliament in central London, on Tuesday, Sept. 7, as workers on London's Underground train system started a 24-hour strike over staffing cuts. Thousands of workers walked out during the evening rush hour at 5:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, in protest at plans to axe 800 jobs in a cost-cutting measure. (AP) Enlarge Photo


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