Down in the Tube station at midnight?

London Underground workers, members of Unite, the country’s largest union, have voted strongly in favour of strike action in a dispute over the introduction of all-night Tube services from September.

Unite, which represents about 250 electrical and maintenance technicians, linesmen and signallers, voted by 70 per cent for strike action and 84 per cent for industrial action short of a strike in the dispute which also includes other issues such as a decent pay rise, jobs and safety. The turnout was 82 per cent.

Unite and the other Tube trade unions are currently in talks with the conciliation service Acas to resolve the dispute before a planned 24-hour strike starting next Wednesday evening (July 8). More talks at Acas are due tomorrow (Wednesday July 1).

Unite regional officer Hugh Roberts said, “Unite members working on the Tube have voted robustly in favour of strike action and there is a strong impetus for London Underground management to reach an equitable settlement through talks at Acas.”