London Underground workers expected to support strike action

A ballot of thousands of London Underground workers in a row over pay is expected to show “substantial” support for strike action, union leaders in the UK predicted today.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said its 6,500 members on the Tube are expected to endorse industrial action.

The ballot closes next Monday and any strike will cause travel chaos for millions of commuters and other passengers in the capital.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “We have made constant attempts to get London Underground to negotiate seriously and to pay our members the rise that was due last April, but management continue to insist on withholding it.

“There is widespread anger among our members over LU’s refusal to give them the 10 months’ back-pay they are owed.

“All the feedback we have been getting from RMT reps around the network is that our members will return a substantial vote for strike action.”

LU has described its three-year pay offer as “very fair”, adding: “It is a three-year deal with an above inflation pay rise in each year, plus a cash bonus for all staff if customer satisfaction targets are met or exceeded.”

Meanwhile, the RMT announced that hundreds of Tube cleaners employed by ISS are to be balloted for strikes in a separate dispute over jobs.