RMT union due to meet management on Monday as workers prepare to walk out for latest London stoppage

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old



The two sides in the London Underground dispute will hold talks on Monday just hours before a three-day strike is due to start.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are set to walk out for three days from 9pm on Monday in a long-running dispute over ticket office closures.

A two-day strike last week caused huge disruption, with roads clogged as people switched to other forms of transport.

The conciliation service Acas announced it has asked the two sides to meet.

A spokesman said: "In view of the impending three-day strike action by RMT members, Acas has invited the chief operating Officer of London Underground and the acting general secretary of RMT to attend a meeting at our offices. Both have accepted our invitation."

Talks between the RMT and LU at Acas broke down on Friday, with the two sides blaming each other for the deadlock.

Minicab app, Kabbee, which is home to 10,000 minicabs from 70 fleets across London, has asked London Mayor Boris Johnson to let minicabs use bus lanes if the strikes go ahead.

Justin Peters, chief executive of Kabbee, said: "We understand the need for industrial strike action in certain situations, but it's then up to Transport for London to help passengers get from A to B easily.

"Opening up the bus lanes to licensed minicabs during strikes would be a simple solution."

Leon Daniels, managing director for TfL's surface transport, said: "During the recent RMT strike the largest number of buses ever were deployed on London's streets, carrying around an extra million passengers and playing a crucial role in keeping London moving.

"To allow additional traffic to use our bus lanes, including private hire vehicles, would only cause disruption to these services which would make no sense at all."