Tube staff leaders hit back at a “barrage of lies, smears and spin” from bosses as talks resumed yesterday over cuts threatening staff and passenger safety.

London Underground (LU) workers will strike on Monday next week and Monday May 5 in protest at a vicious attack on pay, cuts in jobs and closure of ticket offices.

Station staff who deal with issues such as anti-social behaviour and emergency evacuations are to be axed.

But managers are waging a propaganda war on the staff and transport union RMT.

Top bosses have produced letters which are being handed out pushing a propaganda line saying “we won’t push fares up to keep open tickets offices.”

RMT said this was “despite the fact that fares continue to increase and ignoring the fact that there has been a pay explosion among senior managers at the top of the company as their numbers also rise while those at the service end are lined up to take a kicking.”

The union also accused LU, including Transport Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy and his boss Mayor Boris Johnson, of being “terrified” of carrying out a promised station-by-station review because of what it would reveal.

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: “While talks continue today it does no one any favours that the TfL management have resorted to spinning politically-motivated lies and smears at the same time as they have reneged on their promises for a full and thorough station by station review of the cuts and closures.”