RMT is already balloting its 1,500 Tube driver members, alongside sister union Aslef, over issues that include policy on signals passed at danger (Spads), health and safety, bargaining arrangements, harassment, discipline, denial of representation rights and imposition of excessive punishments.

"London Underground management's attempts to impose rather than negotiate have undermined industrial relations right across the company," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"The issues affecting train operators remain to be resolved, and the RMT executive has now agreed to ballot all other Tube members over LUL's attempts to impose, without negotiation, changes in attendance, disciplinary and harassment procedures.

"For all its fine talk about industrial relations, LUL is ignoring its own procedures and trying to impose changes and bypass its established negotiating machinery.

"After months of trying to stop these attacks it has become clear that the only path left open to us is to ballot our entire Tube membership for industrial action, and we have given London Underground notice to that effect," Bob Crow said.

ends

Note to editors: The drivers' ballot will close this Thursday (February 9), and the ballot of all other grades will close on February 23.