Tube workers vote to strike over pay row Published duration 16 April 2012

image caption The RMT executive will now consider its next move

Workers who maintain and upgrade Tube lines on London Underground (LU) have voted to strike.

It follows a row over pensions and benefits, the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union said.

A spokesperson for the union, which represents about 1,000 staff on the Tube Lines contracts, added that workers voted 4-1 to take action.

A Tube Lines spokesman said: "We will continue to try to find a way forward through constructive discussion."

Union members want to join Transport for London's (TfL) pension scheme and receive travel concessions.

'Widespread disruption'

Members say other people who work for LU receive these benefits and it was time "all groups of staff under the umbrella of London Underground receive the same rights and benefits".

The staff involved work on the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee lines and provide a number of services, including emergency repairs, across the entire network.

The RMT executive will now consider the next move, including whether to set strike dates which officials said would cause "widespread disruption".

Tube Lines operations director Lee Jones said: "We note that the outcome of the RMT's ballot showed that less than 44 per cent of its members voted in favour of strike action.

"We have been discussing this issue with our trade unions for some time, and we will continue to try to find a way forward through constructive discussion."

Earlier this year, members of the Aslef union went on strike over a row concerning working bank holidays.