DLR strike set to start on Wednesday

UNION officials have confirmed two strikes affecting London transport are still set to go ahead this week. The RMT said today that Tube Lines maintenance staff will walk out for two days from 7pm on June 23. The strike would cause widespread disruption on

UNION officials have confirmed two strikes affecting London transport are still set to go ahead this week.

The RMT said today that Tube Lines maintenance staff will walk out for two days from 7pm on June 23.

The strike would cause widespread disruption on the three lines maintained by the private contractor, Jubilee, Piccadilly and Northern.

The company is also responsible for responding to problems on the whole London Underground network, which could delays for all public transport users in the capital later this week.

Also on Wednesday, RMT members from Serco Docklands, which operates the DLR, will walk out for three days from 4am.

"They are both still on," said an RMT spokesman. "We will continue to be available for talks and we are committed to making progress. There has been contact in the past week but the strikes are still on."

The Serco dispute started after union members said they were not adequately paid for increased workload and responsibility following the introduction of three-carriage trains.

Tube Lines union members are unhappy at claims they have not had assurances over working conditions and pay following the takeover of the company by Transport for London - which is due to be finalised at the end of this month.

TfL has called on all sides to get back round the negotiating table and prevent both strikes.