Commuters to suffer as Tube drivers vote for all-out strike in sacked driver row

Commuters face an Underground shutdown after Tube drivers today voted to strike in support of two sacked colleagues.

The RMT union balloted 2-1 for a walk-out after London Underground refused to reinstate two drivers fired over alleged safety breaches. The date and length of any industrial action has not yet been confirmed.

A spokeswoman for Transport for London, parent company of the Tube, said: "It is absolute nonsense to suggest that these individuals were dismissed unfairly due to their union activities, and it is disgraceful that the RMT leadership has chosen to ballot for strike action when both cases are still going through the employment tribunal process. The threat of strike action will never resolve issues such as this.

"The RMT leadership only achieved a very weak mandate for strike action in defence of these drivers when their Bakerloo and Northern line colleagues were balloted before Christmas. We know that the vast majority of drivers work safely with the utmost respect for passengers and their fellow workers at all times."

The union claims the "real reason" Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas were sacked is because they are prominent RMT members.

The Northern and Bakerloo lines, where the drivers worked, were hit by two strikes last year over the dismissals. But if the planned strike action goes ahead it could paralyse the entire network. An employment tribunal has granted "interim relief", meaning the men remain on their £45,000-a-year pay until full hearings take place.

London Underground says Mr Thomas was dismissed because of "abusive behaviour" towards his colleagues and Mr Lynch because he "over-rode his train's safety systems and drove the train with complete disregard for established procedures".

Tube bosses say full investigations were conducted into both incidents and that union activity had nothing to do with the outcomes.

Bob Crow, the RMT leader, said: "This massive vote for action by Tube drivers shows that they are well aware of the consequences of allowing our activists and safety reps to be picked off while we hear daily reports of breakdowns and failures on the network as a direct result of the very cuts that our members have been fighting.

"The attack on Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas is the clearest cut case of victimisation on the grounds of trade union activities that you will ever see and it's no wonder that the Employment Tribunal was swift to see through the management lies and grant both these members "Interim Relief" - an award which requires the strongest possible proof that their sackings were down to their union activities.

"Eamon and Arwyn have been victimised for fighting cuts to jobs and services that would turn the tube into a death trap. This vote for action sends out the clearest signal that workers who stand up for tube safety will get the full support of RMT members."