tube strike: People's Assembly update

Dear Peter Last night tube workers started their strike action over massive subsidy cuts of £9 billion to Transport for London and London Underground's annual operating budget. The Mayor of London, who campaigned for election on the promise of keeping ticket offices open, now plans to close every London Underground ticket office as part of this budget cut. The first tranche of cuts will also see the loss of nearly 1000 front line, safety critical and customer facing station jobs. In a message to RMT members Bob Crow said: "The strike action that began last night has been rock solid and this has meant the London Underground network has effectively been closed down. This isn’t a boast but a fact which can leave LUL in no doubt of the determination of RMT members to put a stop to their disastrous plans to cut nearly 1000 jobs and close ticket offices." Manuel Cortes TSSA general secretary said fewer than a third of normal tube trains were running during this morning's rush hour with "overwhelming" support for the action from his members. He called on the London Mayor to enter into immediate peace talks and end "government by gimmick" in the capital. If you can, get down to a picket line to show your support. Tomorrow will also see members of UCU, Unite, Unison and EIS in Higher Education take strike action over pay. The People's Assembly is organising a rally in support of the strikes and in defense of our right to resist austerity next Tuesday. Please do all you can to show solidarity with the strikes and spread the word about this important rally. All-London Rally: Hands off our Unions | Stop the cuts | Resist Austerity Organised by the People's Assembly, Institute of Employment Rights and the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom Tuesday 11 February, 6:30pm Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC1H 9AU Please register your place here Speakers include: Len McCluskey, Unite the Union Mark Serwotka, Public and Commercial Services Union Francesca Martinez, Comedian John Hendy QC A striking transport worker