Tube faces stoppages as staff vote on strike

UP to 10,000 Tube and Transport for London staff are to be balloted over strike action in a dispute over job losses and pay.

Tube lines could be brought to a halt next month by a series of 24-hour stoppages.

RMT union bosses signalled their determination to confront Mayor Boris Johnson, who has ordered 1,000 jobs to be axed at London Underground.

The strike ballot is the biggest ever among London transport workers. The two ballots begin tomorrow with the result to be announced in three weeks. The union is confident the strike call will be well-supported.

Transport for London admits it will cut hundreds of jobs from its staff of 28,000, although senior sources have told the Standard the real figure is nearer 2,000.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said Tube bosses were tearing up an agreement to safeguard jobs.

Mr Johnson said: "I hope the RMT and its members see sense. It will do absolutely no good to hard-pressed commuters to have a strike."