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• "Most purposeless strike ever" halts nine Underground lines
• Tube strike will affect two-thirds of lines
• Livingstone calls Tube strikes 'unreasonable'

The RMT's general secretary Bob Crow looked increasingly isolated in his war to take control over Tube maintenance out of the hands of Metronet's 'fat-cat shareholders' and back into the public sector.

Yesterday, the TSSA and Unite unions abandoned plans to join in with industrial action after Metronet's administrators, from Ernst & Young, presented them with a signed agreement that appeared to meet all of the unions' demands on pensions and job guarantees. The RMT union said they were only "qualified guarantees" for the duration of the administration period.

Administrator Alan Bloom of Ernst & Young and Metronet CEO Andrew Lezala wrote to Crow to confirm that "during the period of administration there will be no streamlining or transfer of employees from Metronet".

"We believe that you have been given an assurance by the Mayor that Transport (TfL) for London will be urging the Pensions Board of Trustees to ensure that no staff will lose a penny of their Pension entitlement whilst Metronet remains in administration."

"We can confirm that the guarantees provided to members of the TfL Pension Fund under the Greater London Authority Act and the London Transport Pension Arrangements Order 2000, will remain and be abided to by Metronet Rail BCV, Metronet Rail SSL, the PPP Administrator, and that the Metronet business will be transferred to the subsequent employer on this basis, as part of a full Scheme Rescue and ongoingly."

London mayor Ken Livingstone yesterday branded the Tube strikes "unreasonable" and "the most purposeless strikes ever". Last Thursday he met with union representatives to set out his proposals for Transport for London to run maintenance of trains, tracks and signalling on London Underground.

The spirit of the Blitz returned to the streets of London today as three million commuters made their way to work on foot or bicycle and by bus. Many firms simply avoided chaos by allowing their staff to work from home for the day.

"As a result of discussions last night with London transport commissioner Peter Hendy, talks will now take place at 2.30pm this afternoon," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"That is a positive development and we hope that Metronet and its administrator will now take our members' legitimate concerns seriously. Instead of shouting insults and pointing accusing fingers, all those involved should now recognise that those concerns need to be addressed."

"It is five weeks since we gave the company notice that we were balloting over the issues involved, yet there was no sense of urgency until it became clear that our members were determined to win the unequivocal guarantees we are seeking. Our members have shown their determination by delivering a rock-solid strike and, pending any positive outcome from today's talks, it will remain on," Bob Crow said.