London Underground staff to take vote on strike action

London Underground employees will take a vote on whether to go on strike over the planned all-night Tube service.

All members of the trade union Rail Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT) will have until June 30 to decide whether they want to go on strike unless their demands are met.

The union is requesting an above-inflation pay rise, and a guarantee that there will be adequate staffing levels when the weekend service launches in September.

Mick Cash, RMT’s general secretary, said: “The industrial relations situation on the tube has sunk to an almost unprecedented low with unions united and balloting for action over the looming disaster for staff and passengers alike, which is due to be ushered in under the guise of the mayor’s vanity project in just 12 weeks’ time.

“Nobody should be under any illusions, the night running plan has been cobbled together on the hoof and will rip up the safety rule book. Monday mornings will be absolute chaos as the network struggles to get back into gear after running flat out, round the clock through the weekend.”

Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, said: “[London mayor] Boris Johnson is not going to get a first-class night tube up and running by September if he makes a second-class pay offer to the staff who will be expected to deliver it on time.”

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and the drivers’ union Aslef are also holding strike ballots.

Nick Brown, London Underground director, added: “We are still in the midst of these negotiations and all parties have agreed that there is much still to discuss, which makes news of the strike ballots all the more bizarre and unnecessary.

“We encourage the trade unions to make themselves available to continue our talks at Acas. We want to reach a settlement that rewards our hard-working staff and is fair, affordable and sustainable.”

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