ClickAJob News

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has called off a strike that caused havoc on London's tube network yesterday and on Monday evening.

Union leaders announced late yesterday that they were suspending the 72-hour industrial action after fresh talks with the capital's transport bosses.

However Transport for London (TfL) has warned that disruption on the underground system is likely to continue throughout this morning, as it will take "some time" to restore services in the aftermath of the strike.

The industrial action, which had begun at 18:00 BST on Monday, stemmed from the recent collapse of tube maintenance firm Metronet, which went into administration in July as a result of substantial cost overruns.

Around 2,300 RMT members took part in the industrial action, with union leaders demanding assurances that tube maintenance staff would not lose their jobs, or see their pensions cut, as a result of the firm's collapse.

The RMT had warned yesterday that its members would continue their protest if the union did not receive "unequivocal guarantees" over the future of jobs and pensions for its members.

After several hours of talks with TfL bosses, union leaders later said that the strike would be suspended straight away – ahead of the outcome of a meeting with pension trustees today.

The RMT is due to meet again on Friday before deciding whether to press ahead with a second 72-hour strike next Monday, according to reports.

Welcoming the union's decision to call a halt to the strike, a TfL spokesperson said: "We are pleased the RMT has suspended its strike action at Metronet, following the clarification of all jobs and pensions issues."

Prior to the decision to end the industrial action, prime minister Gordon Brown had urged striking tube maintenance workers to "get back to work as quickly as possible".

Speaking to reporters earlier yesterday, Mr Brown said: "This is a wholly unjustifiable strike, it is causing an enormous amount of trouble to the people of London and a disruption to the business of this city."