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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Commuters Down the Tube as Strike Hits London

Underground out of service, but strikers have little support

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(Newser) – London commuters faced a trial to get to work today as a subway strike pushed millions onto buses, bikes, and boats. The 48-hour strike began last night after talks broke down with one of the Tube's unions over disciplinary measures against two train drivers. Some lines are running irregularly, however, as dissenting Tube workers showed up to work in defiance of the union, reports the Evening Standard.

Boris Johnson, the London mayor who got to work today on a Thames ferry, called the action "absolutely crazy." The strikers have pledged to continue the work action, but the leader of a rival union, who believes the job action is wrong, had no support for the strikers: "In the past our drivers would have refused to cross picket lines. This, however, is evidently not the case today."

A line for taxis at Paddington Station in London today. A 48-hour Tube strike has disrupted commutes for millions in the capital.
A line for taxis at Paddington Station in London today. A 48-hour Tube strike has disrupted commutes for millions in the capital.   (©Ash Berlin)
This is a Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 file photo of an old style step on-off London Routemaster buses as they pass through London's Piccadilly Circus.
This is a Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 file photo of an old style step on-off London Routemaster buses as they pass through London's Piccadilly Circus.   (AP Photo/Richard Lewis)
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on the city's subway system.
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on the city's subway system.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A London underground sign is seen outside Westminster station by the Palace of Westminster in London, Thursday Jan. 29, 2009.
A London underground sign is seen outside Westminster station by the Palace of Westminster in London, Thursday Jan. 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 10, 09 10:17 AM CDT
Hm; If the commuters had cars, productivity and therefore the economy would have been unaffected. It appears that if the bad guys wanted to shut down a city given primarily to public transport, it would be a fairly easy process. No, I'm not saying PT is a bad idea, I'm just saying this. Reply
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