- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Stiff upper lip for Londoners caught up in tube strike
- Date: 8th September 2010
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 7, 2010) (REUTERS) LONDON UNDERGROUND TUBE SIGN MAN WALKING UP TO "TEMPLE" TUBE STATION, WHERE GATES ARE CLOSED SIGN BEHIND CLOSED GATES TO STATION INFORMING PASSENGERS THE STRIKE IS ON LONDON UNDERGROUND SIGN FOR TEMPLE TUBE STATION LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE WALKING OVER BRIDGE CLOSE UP OF FEET WALKING WALKERS AND CYCLISTS GROUP OF CYCL
- Embargoed: 23rd September 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: General,Employment
- Reuters ID: LVA6C0Z7YWJEPSP0V6PRMAAC1KVH
- Story Text: Millions of commuters across London struggled to get to work on Tuesday (September 7) as a 24-hour strike by workers on the underground rail system crippled much of the network, hurting the city's convalescent economy.
Passengers took to bikes, buses, walked, or made use of extra boat services on the River Thames that runs through the city in a bid to beat the stoppage, called in protest at 800 job cuts driven by austerity measures.
Despite the disruption, commuters were putting a brave face on the situation. They said there were far more people walking to work and spoke of long queues for buses.
"It's normally a ten-minute walk. It's about an hour now. But it's no problem. It's healthier I am sure," said one man.
The London Chamber of Commerce estimates that each day the underground is shut will cost the capital's economy 48 million pounds.
The Rail Maritime and Transport union said every underground line was suspended or running a skeleton service after "rock solid" support for the walkouts in protest at staffing cuts.
The RMT said the job cuts were just "the tip of the iceberg" as the centre-right coalition government prepares 25 percent cuts in spending to tackle a record budget deficit.
Governments across Europe face labour unrest as they take unpopular measures to curb state spending that soared in the 2008-09 global financial crisis.
Britain, which had to bail out its giant financial sector, is planning the harshest austerity drive in decades, with pay, job and spending cuts and pension reform looming. Ministries have been ordered to make average cuts of about 25 percent and told to suggest budget savings of up to 40 percent. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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