Tube workers call off strike

A planned strike by London Underground workers which would have caused travel chaos for over a million commuters has been called off.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union employed by private firm Metronet were due to walk out for 24 hours at 6am on Friday in protest at the sacking of maintenance workers following the discovery of empty beer cans in their mess room.

But the union's executive has decided to suspend the strike while the men take claims for unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal.

Bob Crow, the union's general secretary, said: "After considering an undertaking by Metronet to abide by the outcome of the employment tribunal, the executive has suspended the strike.

"We are confident that our members will win this case for not a shred of evidence has been produced to link any of them to alleged drinking on London Underground premises."

The union said it would also be seeking an urgent review of Metronet's disciplinary procedures.

The company has told the union it will abide by the outcome of the tribunals, which will hear complaints from the men that they were unfairly sacked following the discovery of more than 100 empty beer cans and an empty brandy bottle.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has written to the president of the employment tribunals asking whether the men's cases could be speeded up.

The president, Judge Goolam Meeran, said delays would be avoided and pledged to expedite hearing the case.

The strike would have hit services on the District and Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith and City and East London lines.

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