PA DLR trains will not be running for 48 hours as the result of a strike

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Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out from 4am in a dispute over the use of agency staff and claims of bullying and intimidation. Passengers have been warned it is unlikely that any DLR services will operate because of the stoppage. Talks broke down last week but the union met managers from DLR operators Keolis Amey for a final attempt to head off the strike, which again ended in failure.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT negotiators have made every effort over the past 72 hours to resolve this dispute through negotiation but due to the sheer intransigence of the management the DLR will now face its first all-out strike action in the 28-year history of the railway. "The responsibility for the massive disruption that will kick in from early tomorrow morning is entirely down to the aggressive and bullying attitude of the new management who don't seem to understand the basic principles of industrial relations. "Our members on DLR are furious at the way that Keolis Amey are trying to bulldoze through some of the worst working practices and conditions that we associate with the operations of the most cheapskate and anti-union companies in the transport sector. "The company should not have underestimated the anger of the workforce and its abject failure to address these issues which left us with no option but to ballot for action and that ballot registered a massive 92 per cent in favour."

PA WIRE•PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES Mick Cash

It is extremely disappointing to find the RMT union refusing to work with us Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas, managing director of Keolis Amey Docklands, said: "I would like to apologise to passengers for the disruption to their journeys this week, caused by the RMT union's strike. "It is extremely disappointing to find the RMT union refusing to work with us to avert the strike action they have planned. "With less than half of the RMT membership voting for action, it is clear that discussions to seek resolutions would be more productive than strike action. Our management team remains open to talks with the RMT, if the union is prepared to work towards a resolution."

PA Docklands Light Railway commuters will have to find alternative ways of getting to work

PA The strike will last 48 hours