Commuters can expect strikes on the London Underground network after staff balloted for action over safety concern and staff cuts.

RMT Union announced 84% of tube station staff and Piccadilly line drivers voted for strike action over two issues involving the cuts of front line staff and safety breaches.

Around 4,000 London Underground employees said they were concerned about safety after nearly 900 frontline workers were axed and ticket offices closed.

The union pointed out that the cuts "have left safety on a knife edge with the incidents at Canning Town and North Greenwich throwing the spotlight on dangers which are being worsened by the cuts process."

In an alleged bomb plot incident, police chased and arrested a man in Holloway Road when a "suspicious package" was left on the Jubilee line on Thursday (October 20).

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said: "RMT members on the London Underground stations see day in and day out the toxic impact of the job cuts programme and they are reporting back that it is horrific.

"With the constant overcrowding on stations and platforms it is only a matter of time before there is a major tragedy if we don’t act decisively.

"Our dispute is about taking action to haul back the cuts machine and put safety back at the top of the agenda."

He added: "In the separate dispute involving drivers on the Piccadilly Line, safety is again a major factor and is tied in with the ripping up of policies and procedures and ignoring warnings from staff.

"Our members have been left exposed and vulnerable and we have no choice but to blow the whistle before lasting damage is done.

"RMT members have now voted overwhelmingly for action in both these disputes and the results will now be considered by the unions executive.

"The union remains available for talks."

Steve Griffiths, London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer, said: "We urge the RMT leadership and members to work with us constructively on the issues they have raised, rather than threaten to disrupt our customers with strikes.

"An independent review‎ of the closure of ticket offices is being conducted by London TravelWatch to ensure that we continue to deliver high quality customer service, and we have talks planned at ACAS next week to discuss the RMT’s concerns on the Piccadilly line."

No date for the strikes has yet been announced.

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