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Tube strike ballot result is due Tube employees vote for strike
(about 12 hours later)
The result of a strike ballot by thousands of London Underground workers will be announced later. Thousands of Tube workers have voted in favour of industrial action in a row over employment, a union has said.
About 2,000 Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members, employed by maintenance firm Metronet, have been voting in a row over employment. Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members, employed by maintenance firm Metronet, voted by 750 to 60 in favour of strike action.
The RMT, which is expecting a vote in favour of a walkout, is angry at plans to transfer staff into parent firms. The RMT, which is angry at plans to transfer staff into parent firms, will announce its next steps shortly.
Metronet has said any industrial action would be "unjustified and unwarranted" as discussions were ongoing.Metronet has said any industrial action would be "unjustified and unwarranted" as discussions were ongoing.
The RMT said Metronet planned to break an earlier agreement by transferring workers to other firms.The RMT said Metronet planned to break an earlier agreement by transferring workers to other firms.
'Maximising profits''Maximising profits'
The union said that if strikes went ahead, more than two-thirds of the Tube system would be crippled.The union said that if strikes went ahead, more than two-thirds of the Tube system would be crippled.
Metronet is the consortium responsible for maintaining and upgrading parts of the Tube.Metronet is the consortium responsible for maintaining and upgrading parts of the Tube.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Forcing transfer is about maximising profits and undermining our members' organisation, pay and conditions.RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Forcing transfer is about maximising profits and undermining our members' organisation, pay and conditions.
"It will also mean more fragmentation on a network that has already seen safety undermined by part-privatisation.""It will also mean more fragmentation on a network that has already seen safety undermined by part-privatisation."
He said that if the vote was in favour of a strike then "unless Metronet indicate that they will honour the agreement we already have they can expect to be notified of industrial action".