Commuter misery deepens as TfL website crashes on first day of tube strikes; China’s exports hit by US tariff tensions– business live

Series of strikes means almost no tube trains running in London until Friday; Beijing’s shipments to US fall by 33% in August

Buses and the Elizabeth Line were taking the strain with queues to board other modes of transport around London, as strikes by Tube train and station staff left virtually the entire Underground network suspended, our transport correspondent Gwyn Topham reports.

Monday morning marked the first of four days of expected total Tube shutdown closure through the strikes, which started in places on Friday with minimal disruption.

We are not going on strike to disrupt small businesses or the public.

This strike is going ahead because of the intransigent approach of TfL management and their refusal to even consider a small reduction in the working week in order to help reduce fatigue and the ill-health effects of long-term shift work on our members.

It will be very damaging for us.

It’s a bold and necessary stand, and these workers deserve widespread support. The five-day week is a century-old model that no longer reflects how we live and work today.