Tube unions warn of strike

The Tube's two biggest unions today combined forces to warn of strike action across the network to prevent compulsory job losses.

They say up to 3,500 jobs could be lost - more than double the figure disclosed by Transport for London.

Staff and union leaders were staging a protest today outside London Underground headquarters, above St James's station, in protest over the cuts.

They demanded bosses "come clean" over the number of jobs going. Union leaders insist the "real number" is way above the TfL figure.

Tube chiefs have said the network will lose 1,000 jobs - as revealed in the Evening Standard last month - and "hundreds" more from TfL, the parent body.

They have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of the drive to save £2.4 billion.

Gerry Doherty, leader of the TSSA transport union, said: "We have it from senior sources that 2,500 jobs will go at TfL on top of those at LU."