London Underground staff plan three 24-hour strikes

London Underground staff are to stage three 24-hour strikes and other industrial action over pay and night Tubes, the RMT union has announced.

The strikes will start on the evenings of 26 January, 15 February and 17 February.

Aslef and Unite union members have also confirmed they will take part.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said his union members were "furious" at the "bodged" introduction of Night Tube plans.

London Underground has offered a four-year pay deal over the issue and said it would hire part-time drivers to staff an all-night service at weekends.

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Aslef claimed earlier London Underground management had refused to meet to discuss conditions for working on the proposed Night Tube.

Image copyrightPA

Image captionThe Tube strikes last year caused disruption for many commuters

The union's London district organiser, Finn Brennan, said: "We genuinely regret the inconvenience that will be caused but the behaviour of London Underground's senior management team have left us with no other choice.

London Underground has previously accused Aslef of "making excessive demands".

The Night Tube, which was due to begin in September, will see 24-hour services on five lines on Fridays and Saturdays.

Tube drivers are also unhappy with pay and station rosters, according to BBC London transport correspondent Tom Edwards.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the union supported the principle of a "properly worked-out night Tube service" but said an "abject failure to work through the detail has led to a comprehensive breakdown in the negotiations".

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "If a strike goes ahead, it will hit many London Underground workers who do not necessarily support the action, and it will cost the strikers in lost pay."

But Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan said Mr Johnson was to blame, arguing: "It proves once and for all that the Tory strategy of refusing to negotiate or even meet with the unions makes strikes more likely not less." by bbc.co.uk