Weekend Tube strike called off, but 7 more are coming in London

LONDON -- A union representing London Underground maintenance workers announced seven more upcoming strike actions over a separate dispute than the strike this weekend that was just called off.

The 12- and 24-hour strikes will potentially cause chaos on working days, bank holidays, Mother's Day and the London Marathon.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said its 1,500 maintenance staff would walk out on various days starting Feb. 12 over potentially "lethal" safety issues regarding staff accessing tracks.

“Nobody should dare to underestimate the severe impact on track safety that the changes bulldozed through by London Underground have unleashed and which have forced our members to take a prolonged period of industrial action to protect both themselves and their colleagues," RMT general secretary Mick Cash said in a statement.

London Underground added that more talks were planned next week.

There are three different sets of disputes playing out between workers and London Underground bosses at the moment. One is over pay and staffing for the Night Tube; another is over staffing because of the decision to close ticket offices; and this most recent strike action is over the track access.

The 48-hour strike that was planned from 9 p.m. Saturday night over staffing because of the ticket office closures was called off Friday afternoon. 

The new strike dates will fall between:

• 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 12 and 6:29 a.m. on Feb. 13

• 6:30 a.m. and 6:29 p.m. on March 6 (Mothering Sunday)

• 6:30 a.m. on March 25 and 6:29 a.m. on March 26
  

• 6:30 a.m. on March 27 and 6:29 a.m. on March 28
  

• 6:30 a.m. and 6:29 p.m. on April 24 (London Marathon)
  

• 6:30 a.m. and 6:29 p.m. on May 15

• 6:30 a.m. and 6:29 p.m. on June 12

Get your boats, unicycles, penny farthings and other creative modes of transport ready, Londoners.

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