Huge majority of Aslef members vote in favour of 8 July walkout after being told they will have to work at night for no extra money

London could face the most widespread tube disruption for more than a decade next month after drivers voted overwhelmingly to strike over Transport for London plans to force through night shifts for no extra pay.

London Underground drivers will stage a 24-hour strike from 9.30pm on 8 July, Aslef announced.

A ballot by the traditionally moderate union saw 98% of votes in favour of a walkout, on a turnout of 81%, as drivers were told plans for an all-night tube from this September would see them working substantial numbers of overnight and weekend shifts.



The three other tube workers’ unions are balloting for a strike and will announce their results at the end of June.



Aslef said the ballot was triggered when management ended direct talks and started the process to impose new rosters.



Finn Brennan, Aslef’s district organiser, said: “There is a window of opportunity for London Underground managers to avoid a summer of disruption by seriously engaging with us to find a solution. They need to withdraw the threat to impose new rosters and make a realistic offer on pay and conditions.



“Our members are entitled to a family life and to some sort of work/life balance. We aren’t opposed to all-night services, but we want them introduced in a fair and sensible way which rewards staff for their hard work and the contribution they make to the success of the London underground.”



About 80% of tube drivers belong to Aslef, which has not taken strike action in London over a pay dispute for more than a decade.

Should Aslef’s ballot be followed by similar outcomes at the RMT, TSSA and Unite, combined action could spell much more disruption than recent strikes where managers continued to run some services.

London Underground’s chief operating officer, Steve Griffiths, said he hoped agreement could be reached at Acas talks. He said: “We recognise the hard and valuable work of our staff and want to give them a pay rise this year and next. We also want to minimise the impact of the night tube on our people, and compensate those it will affect most. But pay levels for our staff are already fair, and any increase must be sustainable.”

According to TfL, Tube drivers earn an annual salary approaching £50,000, on a range of shifts, and drivers would be required to work seven night shifts a year. However, Aslef said that many more shifts could be demanded for a proposed pay increase of only 0.75% – well below that recently agreed at Network Rail.