London: Commuters face a day of chaos next week after London Underground members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) union called for a 24-hour strike.

The disruption will start at 8pm on Wednesday, July 17, and end at 8pm on Thursday, July 18. Trains will be running, but long delays should be expected.

The dispute is over RMT claims that staff have not been properly consulted over safety issues surrounding government plans to part-privatise The Tube.

The scheme, called Public Private Partnership (PPP) would make private companies responsible for the maintenance of the Tube network.

Companies involved would include Jarvis, who looked after the track at Potters Bar, and Balfour Beatty, who maintain train line for Hatfield.

Both Hatfield and Potters Bar lines have suffered tragic rail accidents.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: "Our members have every right to protect their own and the public's safety.

"When lives are at stake there can be no room for compromise, and the experience of the national railway proves that splitting up the Tube network in the same way is potentially disastrous."

London Underground bosses have stated that the RMT has been given the opportunity to consult over PPP.

The Tube's Safety Director, Mike Strzelecki said: "We understand that the actual turn out of just over a third. That means the majority of RMT members have not voted to strike.

"This is hardly a convincing mandate for strike action. And it is hard to see how on this turnout the RMT Executive can justify the prospect of such widespread disruption to London and its traveling public.

"Back in May we asked RMT to outline their specific concerns to us so that we could address them together in a positive way. We have yet to receive any response."

July 10, 2002 14:00