10,000 Tube staff balloted over strike action that could bring network to standstill

More than 10,000 Tube staff are to be balloted for strike action in an escalating row over pay.

The walkouts, with the first designed to take place just before the London mayoral elections, threaten to bring the network, used by more than four million people a day, to a standstill.

The move came as hundreds of Transport for London (TfL) staff members belonging to Unite, the UK’s largest union, today staged the first of three 24-hour strikes in a row over pay and alleged cuts in holidays.

Aslef, the union representing more than 3,000 Tube drivers, is also balloting its members in the same dispute.

Staff taking part include those who monitor London’s roads and traffic conditions on a 24/7 basis and revenue inspectors who prevent fare evasion – estimated to lose the transport network £100 million a year.

Leaders of the RMT ordered the ballot after rejecting a four-year inflation busting pay offer. They predict massive support for the strike call.

Mick Cash, the RMT leader, said the union is “angry and frustrated” that year-long pay negotiations have resulted in “stalemate.

“London is a wealthy business centre and those staff who work round the clock to keep the City moving deserve their fare share,” he said.

“Preparations for the ballot are well under way and we will be campaigning hard for a massive ‘yes’ vote.”

TSSA, the white collar and managerial union, has already accepted the four-year deal which offers RPI plus 0.2 per cent.

Union bosses earlier rejected a one year 2.5 per cent increase as “insulting.”

A TfL spokesperson said of the Unite dispute; “We believe these changes are fair and consistent with other areas of TfL where staff work similar shift patterns.”

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