Labour sides with Tube management over 24-hour strike

The Labour leadership yesterday took the highly unusual step of siding with London Underground management over a 24-hour strike which will bring the system to a virtual standstill for the first time in seven years.

Asked about the prospect of a summer of conflict on the Tube, David Blunkett, Labour spokesman on education and employment, declared his backing for the intervention of an independent arbiter - a suggestion made last week by London Underground. He said: "We are in favour of arbitration. We are in favour of that arbitration being binding, and we think it inappropriate for the dispute to continue in the light of our proposal."

Last night 12 left-wing Labour MPs embarrassed the leadership by signing a Commons motion expressing "full support for all those who are now engaged in re-establishing the right, in a free society, of withdrawing their labour".

The motion, tabled by Tony Benn and signed by Dennis Skinner, Ken Livingstone, Alan Simpson and eight other members of the Socialist Campaign Group, backs London Tube drivers, postal workers, Merseyside dockers "and others".

Last week the management suggested that the conflict should be referred to the industry's wages board, which uses an arbitration process to settle disputes.

Last night union leaders were taken aback by Mr Blunkett's comments. Some left-wing drivers' representatives said it was part of a continuing campaign by the Labour Party to capture voters in the South-east.

Travellers in London today face the most chaotic day of the summer as the two main Tube unions join forces in strike action. In contrast with previous 24- hour stoppages, drivers belonging to the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers' union are to walk out as well as their colleagues in Aslef.

At best, only a few shuttle services will run in the capital and severe traffic jams are expected on the roads.

Attempts to resolve the dispute ended in deadlock early yesterday and it seemed both sides were as far apart as ever in the argument over working hours. Another 24-hour strike has been called for next Thursday, and the unions plan to hold one a week until September.

Ann Burfutt, head of human resources at London Underground, said last night that in negotiations she was faced by "12 angry men wagging their fingers at me".

She said everyone would lose: management, customers and the drivers, who stand to forgo more than pounds 1,000 each during the campaign.

Ms Burfutt insisted that the deal on offer was the best possible. During the talks, the Underground management is believed to have proposed a two-year deal which would avoid what has become annual disruption to the Tube service.

Management said it had been presented with a new set of demands during the most recent talks, including calls for further reductions in the working week.

t More than 130,000 Royal Mail workers today stage their third 24- hour stoppage.