Last night it was not clear how many trains London Underground would be able to run in the face of a New Year's Eve stoppage by 4,000 RMT members. Buses will run as normal with an extra 40 night routes in operation, TfL said. The organisation is expected to consider extra buses today.
Yesterday a TfL spokesperson said: "In the event of the RMT strike going ahead, we expect there to be some disruption to tube services, but London Underground intends to run as full a service as it can, throughout the night if possible. We expect to be able to provide some services on all lines."
The dispute centres on the introduction of new rosters in the wake of a move to a 35-hour week. The RMT argues that the new rosters, due to be introduced in February, are a threat to safety - a claim disputed by London Underground. The union has said it will suspend the industrial action if the company withdraws the rosters.
Bobby Law, the RMT's regional organiser, said his union was not to blame for the failure to reach a settlement. "It is the fault of London Underground for refusing basically to negotiate properly," he told BBC Radio 4.
London Underground said: "The RMT's refusal to even talk with us is totally unreasonable. It is ridiculous to demand we withdraw rosters which have already been agreed by 90% of groups and staff concerned."
