London Underground workers prepare to strike over jobs and conditions at Metronet
London Underground staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over jobs and conditions at Metronet.
The Rail Maritime and Transport Union, Transport Salaried Staff Union and Unite unions voted in three separate ballots to halt the Tube unless Metronet administrators can offer assurance workers’ jobs will remain safe.
The unions are unhappy at the perceived failure of the administrators to guarantee there will be no job losses or pension cuts resulting from the company’s collapse.
Union chiefs are meeting with Metronet’s administrators Ernst and Young on Wednesday. If they fail to receive the assurances they require, they will name dates for industrial action on Thursday.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Our members have said with a single, united voice that they are not prepared to be made to pay for the failure of the PPP with their jobs, conditions or pensions."
A Transport for London spokesperson said: "A vote for strike action is completely unnecessary. It is particularly unreasonable at a time when administrators are working to ensure the stability of Metronet following the company's collapse.
"We urge the RMT, TSSA and Unite to withdraw their threat of strike action, and work with Metronet's Administrators to enable them to get the company on a stable footing and out of administration as soon as possible."
Workers collectively voted 1,369 in favour of strike action, and 70 against.
