Three days of subway strikes will hit commuters next week Business

Commuters face a three-day strike on the London Underground next week after talks between Sadiq Khan and union bosses broke down in a row over pay and pensions.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced industrial action on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The city’s transportation authority has suggested people work from home.

Union leaders have accused the Mayor of London and his officials of opposing a deal that would have avoided chaos.

But Transport for London (TfL), the authority chaired by Mr Khan, said there was no reason for a strike.

Andy Lord, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “It is extremely disappointing that the RMT is considering going ahead with this action. We have not proposed any changes to pensions or terms and conditions, and no one has lost or will lose their jobs because of the proposals we have presented.

Union bosses fear that Mr Khan will give in to government demands to impose reforms on the metro.

Mr Khan is under pressure to cut costs so TfL can balance its books as the capital emerges from the pandemic.

The Covid crisis has left a multi-billion pound hole in the authority’s finances as TfL depends on fares which have dried up in successive shutdowns. Mr Khan has been forced to appeal to the Government for a series of bailouts, which have so far cost taxpayers almost £5billion.

In return, Mr Khan was asked to review the lucrative remuneration and pension of the last salary of the tube workers. He also promised to examine the feasibility of driverless metro trains, which would undermine the power of the RMT and other unions.

Mr Lord said: “If the RMT goes ahead with this action, then anyone who is due to travel on March 1 and 3 should check before they travel to determine if they are able to work from home and work from home. use alternative modes of transportation where possible.”

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘Transport staff, hailed as heroes for transporting London through Covid for almost two years, often at great risk to their lives, are left with no other choice than to strike in defense of one’s livelihood.”

Both sides said they remained open to resuming talks.