London Tube threat after sacking

Hundreds of thousands of commuters and other travellers in London face chaos because of a threatened strike by drivers on one of the busiest Tube lines, it was warned today.

Members of the drivers’ union Aslef who work on the Northern Line are to vote on whether to stage a campaign of industrial action in protest at the sacking of a colleague.

The line is used by 660,000 passengers every day and any strike would cause huge disruption.

The union is protesting over the sacking, which followed an incident with a signal at Moorgate last September.

Aslef claimed there was a problem with the signal and insisted the driver followed the correct procedure.

The union is calling for the reinstatement of the driver, who had worked for London Underground for 22 years.

Hundreds of drivers signed a petition last year calling for a strike ballot following the dismissal.

LU has said that the disciplinary appeal process is still going on and has not been exhausted.

The company complained that holding a ballot for industrial action while the disciplinary process has not been completed was a breach of procedures agreed with trade unions.