ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Strike action to shut down the entire Tube was threatened today as unions prepared for a major battle over pay.

The RMT, the largest Tube union, has rejected as “derisory” a one-year 2.5 per cent increase and is planning a network-wide ballot for industrial action.

A four-year pay deal covering all staff has just come to an end and all the unions are preparing demands for another multi-year agreement. A spokesperson for Transport for London, the Tube’s parent company, said it believed its offer was “fair and affordable” and looked forward to discussions with the unions continuing.

But RMT leader Mick Cash said it had “wholly rejected” the deal. “As a result we will begin preparations for an industrial action ballot and the ball is firmly in London Underground’s court to come back with an improved offer,” he said.

Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA union, said a meeting on Monday will discuss the one-year offer — but warned that it was “nowhere good enough”. He added: “If it’s rejected our union will go into dispute with London Underground.” The four-year deal was agreed by TfL in 2015 with annual rises of RPI or more.

Tube Strike - In Pictures 15 show all Tube Strike - In Pictures 1/15 Bus queues Jeremy Selwyn 2/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 3/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 4/15 Platforms at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 5/15 Passengers study departure board at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 7/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 8/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 9/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 10/15 Passengers on crowded buses in Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 11/15 Passengers waiting for buses in Uxbridge Road Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 12/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 13/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 14/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 15/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 1/15 Bus queues Jeremy Selwyn 2/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 3/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 4/15 Platforms at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 5/15 Passengers study departure board at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 7/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 8/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 9/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 10/15 Passengers on crowded buses in Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 11/15 Passengers waiting for buses in Uxbridge Road Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 12/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 13/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 14/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 15/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati

South Western Railway passengers to and from Waterloo face disruption all this weekend across the network due to Network Rail engineering work. Trains to Twickenham tomorrow for the Bath Rugby-Bristol Bears game will be particularly busy.