Tube union RMT today confirmed a ballot for strike action of Train Operators and Instructor Operators on the Piccadilly Line in response to London Underground riding roughshod over agreements and abusing a range of agreed policies and procedures.

London Underground has also unilaterally decided to split Acton Town Piccadilly Depot into two, ripping up rosters and booking times, refusing perfectly reasonable requests for decent staff facilities and bulldozing through their plans outside of the agreed negotiating machinery.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“Driver and instructor members on the Piccadilly Line are furious at this unilateral attack by the company on working conditions, agreements and procedures and we are moving forwards with plans for a ballot for strike action.

“We will of course be in talks with our sister drivers’ union ASLEF and London Underground should be in no doubt about the union’s determination to protect working conditions and to stop the abuse of procedures.”