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Special
report: transport in Britain
Tania
Branigan
Monday February 5, 2001
The Guardian
Millions
of commuters face travel chaos this morning
as tube drivers mount the first of three one-day
strikes in a row over safety.
London Underground gave warning that industrial
action would cripple services because the
organising union, Aslef, represents 80% of
drivers, although some trains will run. The
strike began last night, but will bite today
as the 3m passengers who take the tube daily
switch to alternative transport.
The
AA warned that roads in the capital and across
the south-east could become jammed as people
switched to their cars, with roads up to a
third busier than normal. Firms warned that
the strike would cost business around £3.5m.
Government
officials had hoped to forestall industrial
action after progress in talks with Bob Kiley,
the capital's transport commissioner, over
the public-private partnership (PPP) plans
for the tube.
Mick
Rix, Aslef's general secretary, said yesterday:
"We are sorry that London Underground
management has still not seriously addressed
the continuing safety concerns on the tube
and that tomorrow's strike has to go ahead
despite the apparent progress made last week."
The
Rail Maritime and Transport Union is unable
to join the strike because the high court
ruled last week that there were irregularities
in its ballot.
The
industrial action coincides with a threat
from air controllers to strike over the Easter
holiday unless the government abandons plans
to part-privatise the air safety network.
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