Christmas shoppers could face mayhem travelling in London with strike action being planned that could affect the festive period.
Nearly 99 per cent of Tube drivers are backing a walk out due to anger over possible reductions to their pensions and changes to working conditions put forward by Transport for London (TfL).
Members of rail union Aslef are now considering taking industrial action over the busy Christmas period.
The huge number of tube drivers wanting to go out on strike is as a result of them feeling that the “agreed working conditions” are now being torn up.
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s organiser on the Underground, said the vote was "extraordinary", reported MyLondon.
He added: "It's a staggering mandate from our members that sends a clear message to Transport for London.
"Government cuts to its funding, together with a fall in passenger numbers since the Covid pandemic, have led to a financial crisis at TfL. Management and government now want to plug that funding gap by slashing staff pensions and tearing up our agreed working conditions.
“This ballot result shows that our Tube train drivers aren’t prepared to let them get away with it.”
So far no date has been put in place for a strike but Aslef is considering the Christmas period to put more pressure on the TfL.
A fresh bailout is being sought by the TfL from central government with further talks on December 11. The service saw its cash from travel fares dry up during the pandemic - leading to hundreds of millions of pounds in lost revenue.
Central government gave the TfL a series of short-term funding deals with conditions including a review of pensions and moves towards driverless trains, reported MyLondon.
With no more funding for London transport in the government’s recent Comprehensive Spending Review, it has led to fears of more cuts.
London Underground management is currently reviewing “every aspect” of the business, meaning it could be heading towards strikes on the network.
Nearly 1,400 tube drivers voted in the ballot and just 16 drivers voted against strike action.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: “Last year Boris Johnson stood on the steps of Downing Street and applauded essential workers. Now his government wants to cut our pensions and attack our working conditions.”
“It’s up to Boris Johnson to step up and do the right thing to help keep the capital moving."
Last year, the basic salary for a full time underground driver was £56,496 and there are no plans yet to ballot overground drivers, reported MyLondon.
A Transport for London spokesperson said: “This mandate relates to ongoing discussions with our trade unions. We urge ASLEF to continue working with us to resolve these matters without having to resort to industrial action."
