Tube workers vote for strike

Three million people could be affected by the strike

London Underground workers have voted to strike in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union supported a walkout in protest at an imposed 3% pay increase by a margin of four to one.

The union, which has more than 8,000 members among Tube workers, announced the results of the ballot on Tuesday afternoon.

It will now have a month to decide whether to call a strike.

The RMT refuse to face facts and continue in their attempts to hold London to ransom

Bob Mason, London Underground

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said: "Our members are angry that London Underground has not only refused to go to independent mediation to settle this dispute but has actually lowered its pay offer because we would not sign away our right to strike.

"Mediation settled the last pay dispute and there is no reason why it should not settle this one but LU knows that 3% is too low, in fact it is the lowest offer from any train operating company this year."

Mr Crow said staff levels on the Tube had fallen by a third over the past 10 years while passenger numbers were up by 30% and revenue had more than doubled.

LU's human resources director Bob Mason said: "This year's pay negotiations ended last month after the unions refused our 3% unconditional pay offer for 2002.

Aslef ballot

"We've now paid the 3% increases to all our staff.

"Most people recognise it's a good deal but the RMT refuse to face facts and continue in their attempts to hold London to ransom."

Potential dates for any strike are not likely to be announced yet as the drivers' union Aslef is also voting on industrial action as part of the same dispute.

The results of Aslef's ballot are due out later this month.

In July three million people were affected by a stoppage over safety concerns.