Forum Brief: Tube strike

The RMT union has announced that a 24 hour national rail strike scheduled for next week has been cancelled.

However, separate strike action planned for the London Underground will still go ahead next week unless agreement can be reached in 11th hour talks on pay and conditions.

Forum Response: Corporation of London

Lord Mayor, Alderman Robert Finch said: "The strike threat is a kick in the teeth for the City - a double-blow that will hurt both tax-paying businesses and the 300,000 City workers who whose family lives will be disrupted.

"Firms which should be out earning the 20 billion that London pumps into the UK economy annually are instead having to spend time and money putting hotels on stand-by, arranging car rotas and coaches, and asking non-essential staff to work at home or take leave.

"Even the threat of the strike costs us dear; if it goes ahead, it will cost the City millions in both actual costs and opportunities.

"City workers in particular, like many Londoners, will just have to get up earlier, go to bed later and see less of their families in order to get to their jobs - jobs that bring huge benefits to all of us in London and the UK."

Forum Response: Federation of Small Busineses:

David Bishop, spokesman for the FSB, told ePolitix.com: "A tube strike would have a serious affect on London’s small businesses.

"Not only would it hit those small businesses who operate near tube stations and thus rely on commuters for a large proportion of their passing trade, but it would also affect small businesses whose employees can’t get to work.

"In a large business, missing one or two people can be managed, but in small businesses every employee is a vital employee."

Forum Response: British Retail Consortium

David Southwell, LRC director, said: "This strike will cost retailers several million pounds through lost sales and stands to potentially damage London's reputation as a global shopping destination.

"The strike is irresponsible and unnecessary. Many of the 356,000 retail employees who work hard every day in retailing outlets will yet again have to endure unwarranted transport chaos just getting to work, whilst customers will be prevented from shopping.

"The disruption caused by industrial action not only effects retailers themselves but has a negative effect on suppliers and other associated sectors of industry, both in London and beyond."