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Commuters on an Underground train at Stratford, the main Olympic stop Stephen Pond/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Strike
Olympic Tube stations hit by cleaners strike
Cleaners are mounting an industrial action over pay rates, with thousands of sports fans expected to use the Underground today.
CLEANERS WORKING ON London’s Underground network are staging a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay during the Olympics.
Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, who work as cleaners for two private contractors walked out at 5.30am today.
The transport union has said the strike means no cleaners will be working in the part of the subway, or Tube, near the Olympic Park.
Many thousands of people are expected to pass through the area today, with high-profile events including the men’s 200m sprint final with Usain Bolt aiming to capture another gold medal.
Picket lines will be set up outside several Tube stations, including Stratford, the main stop for the Olympic Park.
General secretary Bob Crow has said the strike is to protest the “minimum pay rates” that transport cleaners are paid to do “some of the dirtiest jobs.”
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