LONDON UNDERGROUND staff are to start their first of two 24-hour strikes tomorrow following a dispute with Transport for London (TfL) bosses over a shorter working week.

RMT confirmed its members will walk out from 12pm for 24 hours on Tuesday and Thursday against the imposition of a four-day week.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “We have approached negotiations with TfL in good faith throughout this entire process, but despite our best efforts, TfL seem unwilling to make any concessions in a bid to avert strike action.

“This is extremely disappointing and has baffled our negotiators.

“The approach of TfL is not one which leads to industrial peace and will infuriate our members who want to see a negotiated settlement to this avoidable dispute.”

TfL chief operating officer Claire Mann said its “voluntary” proposals for a four-day working week would bring the service in line with “working patterns of train operating companies” and allow them to offer workers “an additional day off.”