A LONG-RUNNING dispute over employment rights for Tube Lines staff has triggered a 72-hour strike by some London Underground maintenance workers next week.

The RMT's general secretary Bob Crow accused Transport for London of taking a 'pig-headed approach' to discussions over whether staff who are employed by former Public-Private Partnership firm Tube Lines should enjoy the same rights as the rest of the London Underground workforce, including travel facilities and pensions.

Tube Lines is now a wholly-owned TfL subsidiary. It was bought out after collapsing as the result of a dispute with TfL over the costs of upgrading the three lines for which it is responsible – the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly.

Tube Lines operations director Lee Jones described the action as 'completely unnecessary', and urged the RMT to return to the negotiating table.

The strike will involve maintenance staff at several depots, and is due to begin at 16.00 on Tuesday, 24 April.