The London Daily News

Travel Desk

In an escalation in the war of words between London Underground and tube drivers union Aslef, Mike Brown the Managing Director for London Underground in a  letter to The Guardian said that "Londoners and businesses would rightly never accept us "bribing" out staff to come to work, especially when they have  already been paid to do so.”

Boxing Day is one of the busiest shopping days in London this year saw the majority of the tube network grind to halt because of a dispute over pay  with Aslef and  London Underground, seeing many thousands of tourists and Londoners use alternative transport methods.  The tube strike made the global news headlines with CNN the American broadcasters sending live broadcasts of the strike with its presenters speculating if industrial action would take place during the Olympics.

Howard Collins, LU's Chief Operating Officer, said: "Despite this pointless strike action called by the Aslef leadership we are running more Tube services than predicted and, working with colleagues from across TfL and beyond, we are keeping London moving.

Trade unions are believed to be looking at holding three more strikes in the early part of 2012, London Underground have stated they remain resolute and aim to have agreement with the unions via dialogue.