Tube action to be challenged in court

A last-minute legal challenge is to be made to halt a planned 48-hour strike by London Underground maintenance workers, it was revealed last night.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union employed by Tube Lines are due to stage a 48-hour walkout from 7 p.m. today in a row over pay, jobs and conditions.

But Tube Lines will go to the High Court this morning to challenge the legality of the union's ballot, just hours before the walkout is due to start.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow yesterday said: "Despite this legal challenge, tomorrow night's 48-hour strike remains on. RMT will defend its position in the court against this latest attempt by an employer to use the full force of the anti-trade union laws to override a perfectly bona fide ballot.

"It's significant that this challenge comes just days after the bosses' organisation, the CBI, demanded even tighter union-busting rights to stop workers who dare to fight to protect jobs, pay and conditions."

Tube Lines said it was challenging the accuracy of the RMT's ballot, claiming that the union had given information that 47 advanced train maintenance staff had voted, when only 30 were employed.

Meanwhile, a planned 72-hour strike by RMT members on London's Docklands Light Railway from 4 a.m. today has been suspended following a new pay offer.