19 April 2012 Last updated at 14:03 ET

Talks over 72-hour Tube strike end without agreement

Union members want to join Transport for London's pension scheme

Talks aimed at averting a 72-hour strike on the London Underground (LU) next week have ended without agreement, conciliation service Acas has said.

Workers who maintain and upgrade three lines on the Tube are to go on strike from 16:00 BST on Tuesday.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said it wanted employees of Tube Lines to join Transport for London's pension scheme.

Tube Lines has said the strike on the issue is "completely unnecessary".

A joint statement said: "Both sides are disappointed that, despite seeking opportunities for resolution, no agreement has been possible at this stage."

No further talks have been arranged.

Safety assurances

Union members also want to receive travel concessions, which the union said other people who worked for Transport for London received. It said it was time "all groups of staff under the umbrella of LU received the same rights and benefits".

The RMT has also written to LU bosses to demand safety assurances during the strike.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow wrote in the letter: "During this period, not only will there be no track patrolling or signal maintenance on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines but more critically for the whole network there will be no Emergency Response Unit.

"Should you attempt to run a service during the period of industrial action I shall advise RMT members of their option to remove themselves to a place of safety should they feel that their working conditions place them at risk of serious or imminent danger."

Tube Lines operations director Lee Jones said: "A strike on this issue is completely unnecessary and will not achieve anything.

"We urge the RMT leadership to end their strike threat and return to talks, as it will only be resolved through constructive discussion.

"Should a strike go ahead, we have plans in place which will enable LU to operate Tube services on all three lines and to minimise any disruption."