London Tube strikes: Does emotional post by worker change your opinion on strike?

A frustrated Transport for London (TfL) worker has spoken out after feeling he and his colleagues have been wrongly accused of being "greedy" by initiating a Tube strike.

Londoners experienced travel chaos on Wednesday night and throughout Thursday (July 9) after unions called a strike following a row about how the London Underground becoming a 24-hour service will impact TfL workers.

But Mick Davey, a TfL worker who had been shocked by some of the public response to the strike, decided to speak out.

Writing on Facebook, he told pals: "As you know I don't usually comment on my work life as nobody really cares about other people's jobs but due to some friends posting complete b******* that they've copied and pasted from the media and haven't got the common sense to ask someone who actually knows what they're talking about now leaves me to enlighten you.

"This dispute has never been about money, it is about protecting work life balance and making sure that change in contracts are negotiated, not just imposed.

"And it's not only train drivers that voted for industrial action, it's every grade of staff that works on the Underground network.

"Everyone I work with that I know has given the same message, we cannot continue to have more and more weekend and anti-social hours working.

"I have never been opposed to Night Tube, but it has to be introduced in a way that is fair; that recognises that staff are human beings with lives and families as well as a job."

Mr Davey says that he signed up to work one week of nights over a 52-week period, and on occasion two weeks.

However, he says that under TfL's proposals he will have to work a minimum of 14 weeks of nights each year.

In the post, which has been shared almost 2,000 times by friends and supporters, he added: "I have a family, I would like to see them at weekends, shift work already takes a lot of that away. TfL can offer as much as they want, I work to live, not live to work.

"Union members voted by a record breaking margin for industrial action.

"I personally believe that TfL do not want to run a Night Tube service as it will cost them millions, the train and track are maintained to a minimum standard as it is but the Mayor of London announced it before it was ever discussed so they had to push ahead with it.

"I have a feeling TfL will now say it can't run Night Tube due to the Unions but in reality they actually don't want it."

Which transport services are affected by the strike?

Tube services started running down from 5pm on Wednesday (July 8) until Friday morning. A total of 11 lines and 260 stations have been closed.

DLR, London Overground and TfL rail staff are not on strike.

First Great Western services to and from Paddington will be disrupted Wednesday evening to Friday, due to a 48-hour strike by RMT members in a separate row over working conditions.

When does the strike start and end?

RMT, Unite and TSSA went on a 24-hour strike from 6.30pm on Wednesday.

ASLEF drivers also walked out from 9.30pm.

Southern rail engineers are also to stage a five-day strike, walking out from 5pm on Sunday (July 12).

Why are the strikes taking place?

The biggest dispute is on London Underground, where almost 20,000 workers went on strike in a dispute over the new all-night Tube services, which are due to start at weekends from mid-September on parts of the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines.

The unions are unhappy over pay being offered for the new service, due to start at weekends from mid-September, as well as rosters.

What is the London Underground saying?

London Underground's chief operating officer Steve Griffiths said: "Londoners and businesses overwhelmingly back the Night Tube.

"It will make life better for everyone, cut journey times, create jobs and boost the economy. Many of our staff will not be affected by the new services as we are operating Friday and Saturday night services on five lines."

Can I get a refund on my Oyster/travelcard if my Tube's not running?

The short answer is no.

TfL make all sorts of provisions for refunds but those sought for delayed or cancelled journeys won't be given where a delay is beyond its control, which includes strike action.

This means you can't claim a refund for journeys where service changes have been advertised in advance, or because of security alerts, power outages, or bad weather.