{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"","title":"London's economy to take £120m hit amid strikes","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61ba05fc1a8cbed4343cf0e6/5883ea1e-0ebe-4d27-9746-2bf0605b19e6.jpg?height=200","description":"

The worst train strikes in 30 years are going ahead this week, as members of the RMT Union take industrial action against plans to cut more than two thousand jobs, while calling for better pay.


It’s thought just one in five trains will run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in what’s been called the biggest outbreak of industrial action on the railways for a generation.


Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has suggested the strikes are a ‘stunt’ being carried out ‘for effect’, and claimed face-to-face discussions between the government and unions don’t lead to resolutions.


We hear from Mick Lynch, Secretary General of the RMT Union about why they are striking, and the Evening Standard’s Business Editor Jonathan Prynn takes a look at how the strikes will hit London’s economy, and how much more travel disruption the capital can take.


Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard



","author_name":"The Evening Standard"}