RMT calls off strike ballot

Leaders of the RMT union today suspended a strike ballot among 7,000 London Underground staff.

The move came less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister intervened to indicate strongly to MPs in the Commons that Tube chiefs should take out an injunction to prevent a further round of strike action.

Yesterday afternoon London Underground admitted it was discussing a possible injunction with its lawyers.

A spokesman for the RMT, the Tube's largest union, confirmed the strike ballot had been suspended pending "legal advice".

The decision to suspend the ballot was taken just hours before the voting papers were due to be dispatched. The RMT intended to protest at LU's refusal to give an "assurance" that it would not take disciplinary action against staff who had refused to work on safety grounds during the national firefighters' strikes.

Staff refusing to work are being sent home without pay. Bob Mason, LU's customer services director, denied this was disciplinary action, saying that staff had breached their code of employment by refusing to work.

A London Underground spokeswoman said a letter had been received from the union confirming the suspension of the ballot: "We are very pleased," she said. "We look forward to going through the proper channels and resolving this dispute."