Strike action has been announced on the London Underground on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend in a move that threatens to cause significant travel disruption in the capital.
Tube staff in the RMT Union have threatened to walk out of Euston and Green Park stations on Friday, June 3 over bullying allegations and a “toxic working environment”.
The strikes will last the entire day and will affect Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly line services at both stations. National Rail services at Euston will not be affected.
The two busy interchanges are key for those attending celebrations near Buckingham Palace and those travelling into London from elsewhere in the UK. The capital is expecting a huge influx of tourists as the Queen celebrates her 70th year on the throne.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Staff at Euston and Green Park tube have suffered years of sustained bullying and intimidation by a manager who has created a toxic working environment.
“The union has tried in vain to reason with management, but they now will not let local representatives be part of a review into dismissals at the stations, instigated by the manager in question.
“Our strike on June 3 will cause significant disruption to people wishing to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. However, if Tube bosses do the right thing, and deal appropriately with the manager in question, we can find a just resolution to this dispute.”
TfL are understood to be carrying out an investigation into the bullying allegations and have asked the RMT to call off the strikes as a matter of urgency.
In an update on Wednesday afternoon, TfL said they hoped to keep both stations open.
A spokesperson said: “Despite the planned strike action, we expect to keep both Green Park and Euston stations open and ensure there is no disruption to our customers – something we know is especially important during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
“The remaining 270 London Underground stations will be unaffected and open as usual. This industrial action is designed to target a weekend of important celebrations and we’re urging the RMT to call off this action and continue talks instead.”
