Tube and rail workers to vote on joint strike

The prospect of co-ordinated strikes on the railways and London Underground was raised last night after the industry's biggest trade union announced it was balloting thousands of Tube workers for industrial action in a row over pay.

The prospect of co-ordinated strikes on the railways and London Underground was raised last night after the industry's biggest trade union announced it was balloting thousands of Tube workers for industrial action in a row over pay.

The Rail Maritime & Transport Union is already balloting 2,000 workers at Network Rail in a dispute over pensions which threatens travel chaos on mainline trains later this month.

The union announced last night it was also in dispute with London Underground and the private firms which maintain the Tube because of failure to agree pay deals.

About 9,000 London Underground workers will vote on whether to stage strikes.

The general secretary, Bob Crow, warned that co-ordinated strikes could be held against Network Rail and London Underground, which would cripple travel in the capital.

The union is seeking a substantial pay rise in each year of any long-term deal and wants its members to work a 32-hour week over four days.