12/10/2009 - Tube workers consider strike action
London Underground workers are considering strike action as part of a long-term pay row, which may severely affect travel services over the Christmas period.
Retailers and other small business based in the capital may be badly affected by potential strikes, which would make travel for clients and employees difficult.
The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced that its workers will vote on what action to take in the next few weeks. Tube workers staged a 48-hour strike in June this year which led to talks over pay and other issues.
The union has announced that its representatives believed a two-year pay offer of 1.5% this year and RPI inflation plus 0.5% from next April was "unacceptable".
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT representatives have worked long and hard to reach agreement on the issues of jobs and breaches of agreements but we have not been able to secure an acceptable offer on pay. In fact, LU management have failed to uphold a pledge that they offered Tube unions for Acas talks on this crucial issue.
"As a result, we have reached the point where we have no option but to put the issue back out to our members and to begin the process of balloting for further action across London Underground."
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