Five drivers braved yesterday's 24-hour Tube strike to take passengers between Finchley Central and Moorgate stations on the Northern Line.

Only 11 trains were running across the London Underground network yesterday as RMT and Aslef union members went on strike. East Finchley Tube station opened to the public at 10.45am, but only a handful of passengers had used the station by lunchtime.

Aslef general secretary Mick Rix was at the station at 7.30am yesterday to lend his support to those picketing.

Finn Brennan, one of the striking drivers at the picket, said: "We don't like having to be on strike but if the company London Underground won't agree to talk to us, there's nothing else we can do.

"We're certainly not highly paid. It's a living wage for living in London. The key issue is not about money."

He said the union had grievances over pension rights and wants a 75 per cent discount on national rail, like railway drivers.

Station staff member Paul Marshall, who lives in East Finchley, said: "If people are saying we earn enough money, they should do a shift we have got people abusing us, being sick all over us.

"We don't get paid a lot for what we do."

RMT and Aslef rejected a three per cent pay offer from London Underground, which imposed it anyway. Tube drivers now earn a basic salary of £31,274. The average wage in Barnet is £25,740, according to the GMB union.

There was also a single train running between Cockfosters and Arnos Grove on the Piccadilly Line.

October 2, 2002 16:30