London Tube staff may strike over security

London underground staff will consider strike action if talks fail on tightening security on the capital's rail network following this month's bombings, a union leader said yesterday.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said it would ballot its 11,000 members working on the Tube on strike action if it did not reach a deal with transport officials to step up security.

"Given the urgency of the situation and the fact that it can take up to a month to ballot, we will not be sitting on our hands," RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said in a statement.

The union is scheduled to meet the network's operator and senior police officials today for security talks after July 7 bomb attacks on London's transport network killed 52 people.

The union said it would demand the introduction of guards on trains, more station staff and better emergency training and equipment including breathing apparatus for rail workers.

It is also seeking assurances that rail operator Transport for London will not reduce staff at rail stations or weaken fire safety regulations.

Transport for London declined to comment. The RMT said some drivers on the rail network refused to work after an attempted attack on Thursday last week because they feared for their safety.

Thousands of RMT workers walked off the job a year ago in a dispute over pay and working hours, shutting down the rail network for 24 hours.