Commuters brace for summer Tube strike chaos as rail union threatens industrial action
London is heading for a summer of strikes as the RMT rail union warned it is preparing a ballot for industrial action over potential job losses on the Underground.
The union is already battling London Underground bosses over staff pay and the maintenance of trains, in a fight that could result in "London-wide" strikes.
Read more: Tube travel chaos on horizon as unions threaten strike action
The new dispute is over a cost-cutting drive that the union says will result in job losses.
RMT chief Mick Cash claims that Transport for London (TfL) has not carried out a full consultation on the potential job losses.
“RMT has made it crystal clear that we will fight any attempts to rip up agreements as part of a process designed to ram through cash-led cuts that would decimate the workforce and open the door to an assault on job security, pay and working conditions that our members have had to fight long and hard to achieve," he said.
“We are now in dispute with London Underground on a number of fronts and are mobilising an industrial and political response that will turn the tide on these ill-conceived attacks.”
TfL has been approached for comment.
Earlier this month, the RMT was joined by the Aslef union in rejecting a pay deal from TfL, with the latter saying the proposed 2.5 per cent pay rise fell "way below" what it was seeking.
The union is also seeking concessions for drivers who work on Boxing day, such as pay rises, annual leave and increased travel perks, which TfL did not make an offer on.
Read more: Rail union boss threatens national shutdown amid pensions row
Aslef claims driver pay on the Underground for certain grades is now "substantially lower" than those on the London Overground and TfL Rail, which runs services between Paddington and the Heathrow terminals.
Both unions said they were preparing a ballot for strike action.