MILLIONS of people will struggle to reach their destinations today because of a strike on London Underground by a union demanding a four-day week.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has already won a 35-hour week for all Underground staff and above-inflation pay increases for the next two years.

But Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has refused to concede a four-day week, saying it would lead to “a crippling fares increase” for Londoners. The first Tube strike for two years began to affect services during yesterday’s evening peak and the entire network will be severely disrupted until late tonight.

The walkout by 7,500 RMT drivers, signallers, station staff and maintenance workers will catch out thousands of tennis fans who are intending to travel to Wimbledon to see Tim Henman’s quarter-final match.

Bus routes across London will be extremely overcrowded because Transport for London (TfL) has said it is unable to supply additional services. But TfL is providing a free river service between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, via Embankment, Waterloo and Blackfriars piers.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, refused to rule out further strikes. He said he was sorry for the distress being caused to millions: “We do send our apologies to them and it is not crocodile tears.” He blamed Bob Kiley, the TfL commissioner, for not becoming personally involved in yesterday’s last-minute talks.

It emerged yesterday that Mr Livingstone had called Mr Crow on Monday night to offer him further reassurances on pay and working hours. Under the proposed deal, workers would receive a 3.5 per cent pay rise this year and the rate of inflation plus 0.5 per cent next year as well as a clear commitment to a 35-hour week for all staff by July 2006. LU also agreed to increase pension contributions to ensure all employees remained eligible for the final salary scheme.

But the RMT responded to the concessions by demanding a four-day week. Maurice Fitzpatrick, head of economics at Numerica, said the strike would cost the London economy £100 million in lost fares and productivity. A spokesman for the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Britain cannot be held hostage by outdated militant unionist tactics. There are hardly any examples of public or private sector workers working four days and being paid for five.

• Direct action by pensioners to block motorways was urged by Mr Crow yesterday to press for better pension provision and protection. In a debate at the RMT’s conference Mr Crow said: “Anyone who has a car should get as many pensioners as possible in it, get as many cars as possible and block the M25 and the M1. That’ll soon make them sit up and take notice.”
  
  
  

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