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20/11/2003
Union votes for strike action amid Tube safety concerns
London commuters are facing the prospect of industrial action on the Tube network after members of the RMT union voted for strike action.
The union balloted its members on industrial action over safety after claiming that employers, London Underground, had failed to give assurances over "inspections and other safety standards".
In a row over safety the union wants important maintenance contracts to be placed under direct control of London Underground.
Safety has become an issue after an interim report on the Baron's Court derailment revealed that a broken rail could not have been detected by existing maintenance checks.
In October the RMT pointed out that there had been five derailments in the last 13 months and that derailments in depots were "common". The union claimed that there had been at least 10 derailments in Ealing Common depot in the last two years.
The RMT also pointed out that mainline track maintenance was under-resourced, claiming that there were insufficient inspections, those that were carried out were infrequent and inadequate.
The union is additionally seeking assurances that temporary speed restrictions, which it said were vital for safety, would be imposed where maintenance was required.
(SP)
The union balloted its members on industrial action over safety after claiming that employers, London Underground, had failed to give assurances over "inspections and other safety standards".
In a row over safety the union wants important maintenance contracts to be placed under direct control of London Underground.
Safety has become an issue after an interim report on the Baron's Court derailment revealed that a broken rail could not have been detected by existing maintenance checks.
In October the RMT pointed out that there had been five derailments in the last 13 months and that derailments in depots were "common". The union claimed that there had been at least 10 derailments in Ealing Common depot in the last two years.
The RMT also pointed out that mainline track maintenance was under-resourced, claiming that there were insufficient inspections, those that were carried out were infrequent and inadequate.
The union is additionally seeking assurances that temporary speed restrictions, which it said were vital for safety, would be imposed where maintenance was required.
(SP)
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