Tube workers to be balloted on strike action

Thousands of London Underground workers have been offered a payment of £850 each for working during the Olympic Games (Getty Images)

Hundreds of London Underground engineers and electrical workers are to be balloted for industrial action after union leaders rejected a "final" pay offer, it was announced today.

Unite, which has 600 Tube members, said the two-year offer of 1.5 per cent in the first year and RPI inflation plus 0.5 per cent in the second year did nothing to help workers meet the "real rises" in the cost of living, which it maintained were not reflected by current inflation figures.

Regional officer John Morgan-Evans said: "London Underground presented this as a final offer, indicating to us that they are no longer interested in negotiating.

"In these circumstances we have no other option than to ballot our members on industrial action with a recommendation that they vote in favour.

"Unite would welcome further discussions should London Underground wish to return to the negotiating table."

Unite members are responsible for maintenance, safety, management and power control and the union said any industrial action could stop the Tubes running.

Other Tube unions are still consulting on the offer, while talks continue between management and the Rail Maritime and Transport union over job losses.

A Transport for London spokesman said: "We are disappointed that the Unite leadership has chosen to ballot its 600 members at London Underground when progress is clearly being made with all other unions towards a new agreement on pay and conditions. We urge them to call off this ballot, which will achieve nothing.

"Our staff have very fair pay and conditions. We have made an above-inflation offer which provides stability during tough economic times, and we would now expect all unions to accept this final offer and recommend it to their memberships."