London Tube Strikes: Business Owners 'Dismayed' Over RMT Walkout

London business owners and workers will be "dismayed" at the capital's latest tube strike, according to the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the LCCI, claimed that the 48 hour walkout from 9pm on 28 April will hit the capital's small enterprises hardest.

"Many will find it difficult to understand why the strike is happening given London Underground's public assurances that no one will be forced to leave," said Stanbridge.

"Following several difficult financial years and with the possibility of sustained recovery this is the last thing that London's small businesses and their employees need so we call on both sides of the dispute to fully commit to finding a solution around the negotiating table."

The comments come as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) took industrial action over plans to close the London Underground's ticket offices and the loss of 750 jobs.

"Regrettably, London Underground has dug itself into an entrenched position and has refused to move one inch from their stance of closing every ticket office, in breach of the agreement reached previously through ACAS, which enabled us to suspend the previous round of action," said Mike Cash, the acting general secretary of the RMT.

"We could have recommended the suspension of this strike action if London Underground had responded positively to our proposal to halt the implementation of these savage cuts, stopping the dire impact they would have the length and breadth of London Underground."

But Transport for London (TfL) has claimed that more than 650 staff have applied for redundancy and stressed that there would be no compulsory redundancies when the ticket offices shut in 2015.

London Underground bosses have promised to "keep the capital moving and open for business".

TfL said it will run as many services as possible, but admitted the industrial action would cause disruption.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has slammed the industrial action and dubbed the strike "mad".

"I urge the RMT to call off this pointless strike and get back round the table with London Underground and the three other unions who've chosen not to strike," Johnson said.