Workers Vote For Strike Over Night Tube Row

London Underground maintenance and engineering workers have voted to go on strike in a row linked to the new night Tube, the RMT union said.

It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) comes a day after it was announced by new mayor Sadiq Khan that London's all-night Tube service would launch on two Underground lines on 19 August.

The strike ballot result is the first faced by the new mayor since he took over from Boris Johnson earlier this month.

Members of the RMT backed walk-outs by 85%. The union is in dispute over pay, staffing and pensions for workers employed by Tube Lines, linked to the night Tube.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT members have now shown their anger at the way that Tube Lines have attempted to tie in attacks on pensions with the offer on pay and night Tube.

"There are also major unresolved issues over the Tube Lines staffing arrangements for the night Tube and over performance-related pay."

Mr Cash called for a swift resumption of "serious and meaningful talks" on the issues.

Plans for the all-night Tube service have had a bumpy ride leading up to Monday's announcement. It had been expected to launch last year but there was no agreement with unions, leading to strikes.

The first services will run on the Central and Victoria lines.

Night services on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines will follow in two separate phases later in the autumn as new Tube drivers complete their training and final preparations are made.

Around 200 part-time drivers are currently taking part in a 14-week training programme for the new service.