LONDON (AFP) — A strike on London's underground system brought chaos for commuters Monday, with unions vowing to disrupt the network for three days in a row over the collapse of a maintenance firm.
Around 2,300 workers from the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out from 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) despite an appeal by London mayor Ken Livingstone to call off the action.
"We have been seeking simple, unqualified guarantees from Metronet and its administrator that there will be no job losses, forced transfers or pension cuts and we have not had them," said RMT boss Bob Crow.
Analysts estimate the strike could cost London's businesses some 50 million pounds (100 million dollars, 75 million euros) a day.
The RMT's members maintain tracks, trains and signals on most of the network, including some of the busiest lines like the Victoria, Central and District lines.
Metronet, a privately owned group that maintains most of the London Underground train network, went into administration in July after running out of funds.
Transport for London (TfL), which runs the city's public transport systems, said unions had received assurances over the concerns they have raised about jobs, transfers and pensions.
Tim O'Toole, London Underground's managing director, said: "RMT leaders have claimed that they have not received the assurances they requested from Metronet and the administrator regarding jobs, transfers and pensions. This is patently not true.
He accused the RMT of ignoring those assurances, and organising a strike which "had no purpose".
"The administrator and Metronet have made clear that there will be no job cuts, no transfers and that pensions will be fully protected while the company is in administration," a TfL spokesman said.
Only three of London's tube lines -- Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly line services, which are maintained by Tube Lines -- continued working.
On all others there was chaos. "I'm hoping the strike is not on tomorrow as I just don't know how I'll get into work," said Ray Boyce, 72, a manager at a construction company near Victoria.
Student Jamiesha Majevadia, 19, was trying to get to her parents' house in east London. "We are turning into the French with strikes every five minutes on everything.
"I don't think they ever achieve very much," she said.
Jan Ford, 50, summed up the typical Londoner response, however, by noting that "at least it isn't raining."
Two unions representing some 900 workers called off their strike threat after accepting the assurances.
The RMT, however, warned of another potential three-day strike next week if the dispute was not resolved.
Striking members of the union, meanwhile, will on Tuesday lobby the Department for Transport in central London, as part of a campaign to bring Tube maintenance work in-house.
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