More tube strikes have been called for early February in a dispute over staffing levels on London Underground stations.
The RMT union has called two strikes likely to effectively shut down the tube in central London over the morning rush hour of Monday 6 February and the evening peak the next day, with reduced services and disruption likely from Sunday until Tuesday night.
RMT members will walk out for 16 hours from 6pm on 5 February and for 15 hours from 10am on the 7 February.
The union said it had called the strikes after failing to make significant progress in talks at the arbitration service, Acas. It said further strikes would follow in March.
It said safety was at the heart of the dispute, which dates back to the removal of nearly 900 jobs during the ticket office closure programme under the previous mayor, Boris Johnson. The RMT said the cuts had led to incidents including dangerous overcrowding on stations and platforms.
Transport for London has acknowledged the cuts have left stations understaffed and agreed to reinstate about 200 posts – fewer than unions demand.
Mick Cash, the union’s general secretary, said: “RMT will not stand by while safety is compromised on London Underground off the back of cash-led cuts to staffing levels that the union has warned would have a serious, lasting and corrosive impact for staff and passengers alike.
“RMT members on the London Underground stations see day in and day out the toxic impact of the job cuts programme and they are reporting back that it is horrific. It has now also been shown that at management level there is agreement with the union that the cuts have been a disastrous mistake.
“With the constant overcrowding on stations and platforms, it is only a matter of time before there is a major tragedy if we don’t act decisively.”
Cash said the union remained available for further serious talks.
The TSSA union, which represents almost 20% of tube station staff and which went on strike alongside the RMT in early January, has also been in talks with London Underground at Acas. The union’s negotiators will meet reps on Monday to decide next steps.
