Tube workers threaten new strike

The major Tube union today demanded yet more crippling strikes - this time over pay claims.

The RMT, led by militant former track worker Bob Crow, brought London to a standstill two weeks ago in a dispute over safety. It is now poised to paralyse the capital once more, bringing misery for millions, to try to win a 5.7 per cent pay rise. That is nearly double what they have been offered.

By calling last night for a strike ballot over pay, the hardline union has effectively opened a new front in its war against London Underground - it already has a mandate for more strikes on safety demands.

The 60,000-strong RMT, which has a stranglehold over almost every sector of the transport industry, this week denied there were detailed plans for more strikes. But Mr Crow has repeatedly warned there would be further action over his opposition to the part-privatisation plan which he claims would compromise workers' safety.

The last stoppages - over safety issues - saw hundreds of thousands of people delayed in their journey to work and are estimated to have cost London at least £60 million. One woman waiting for an overground train was pushed by the sheer number of people off the platform of a north London station. Fortunately she was pulled back to safety a few seconds before a train arrived.

Mr Crow has a reputation as a hardline unionist who will not hesitate to demand strikes in his battle for improved conditions for his members. In March he forced London Underground to accept an improved pay deal for Tube drivers. Mr Crow has been unapologetic over the strike action and stands accused by many in the industry of using commuters as pawns in a political battle. While many commuters could understand his opposition to the public-private partnership (PPP), they are likely to be less forgiving of his threat to cripple the Tube over pay demands.

London Underground initially offered three per cent, increasing it to 3.2 if the union accepted a "no strike" deal. But when they pressed ahead with stoppages, that increased offer was withdrawn. The RMT, which represents 8,500 Tube workers, said there was "a lot of anger" over the decreased offer.

Mr Crow said: "RMT does not sign sweetheart deals with anyone, least of all with a company preparing to be sliced up and thrown in part to the private sector.

"It is scandalous that some LU staff are still waiting for a 35-hour week, that some members have vastly inferior pension arrangements to colleagues doing the same work, and that new starters are denied the travel passes their workmates enjoy."

London Underground insisted there was "no pot of gold" for substantiallyraising pay. The union has not yet announced new dates for strike action but has been given a mandate by its members to plan fresh stoppages over safety.

Under PPP, the Tube Lines Consortium will be responsible for maintaining and upgrading the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, while the Metronet Consortium maintains the rest of the lines. The operation of the trains will stay in the public sector and will be the responsibility of the London Mayor and the capital's Transport Commissioner.