London subway strike closes dozens of stations

London, Jan. 9 (AP): London commuters faced disrupted journeys to work today because of a strike by thousands of subway station workers.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union began a 24-hour walkout at 6.30 pm yesterday in a dispute over work schedules.
An entrance to King's Cross station in London.
London Underground management said a normal service was operating on most subway lines. Although 40 stations closed due to lack of staff early yesterday, by 9 am all but 24 of the system's 275 stations were open.

The strike does not include train drivers. But in a separate dispute, there were delays along the busy Northern Line after some drivers walked out in support of a colleague who had been fired.

A similar strike on New Year's Eve and day caused little disruption, shutting about 35 stations.

But the latest walkout hit a working day, when London's subway system would normally carry about 3 million passengers.

Union and transit bosses have been at loggerheads over new staff assignments and work schedules, which the union claims threaten safety because they spread staff too thin.

Managers say they would never compromise on safety.

The union has said that if the dispute is not resolved it will escalate, with all of the union's subway members being balloted for further action starting at the end of January.

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