Striking Tube cleaners subjected to 'appalling intimidation'

Cleaners on strike over pay have been subjected to "appalling" intimidation, including being threatened with the sack, a union claimed today.

Hundreds of London Underground cleaners will end a 48-hour walkout this evening after taking action to improve their pay and conditions.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said it was gathering evidence after allegations that strikers had been bullied, harassed and threatened with losing their job.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "Reports coming in from picket lines over the last 36 hours indicate that the employers are so desperate that they are resorting to gangster-style intimidation and using the worst sort of fear tactics to stop more people joining the strike.

"Managers have been threatening people with the sack if they join the strike and telling them that they will have sums deducted from their wages that are way above what they could have earned during the strike."

Feminist activists staged a protest outside a Tube station near Westminster today in support of the cleaners, most of whom are women and people from ethnic minorities.

The women said they dumped rubbish outside St James's Park during the protest.

Transport for London said police were called to the incident, adding that it had not disrupted services.

The union is seeking a so-called London Living Wage of £7.20 an hour, almost £2 more than some cleaners said they earn, as well as improvements to holidays, sick pay and pensions.