Union members working on the London Underground have voted in favour of a 24-hour industrial action over the loss of nearly 900 front-line staff and the closure of ticket offices.

The Naional Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced strikes will be held between 6pm on Sunday January 8 to 6pm on Monday January 9.

Strike action has been taken because of a dispute over safety and staffing because the RMT says cuts are leaving “safety on a knife edge”.

More than 3,000 RMT members were balloted with 85% voting in favour of a walkout and 94% for action short of a strike.

'RMT will not stand by while safety is compromised'

RMT's general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “RMT will not stand by while safety is compromised on London Underground off the back of cash-led cuts to staffing levels that the union has warned would have a serious, lasting and corrosive impact for staff and passengers alike.

“That is why our members are taking this action.

“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.

"It has now been shown that at management level there is agreement with the union that the cuts have been a disastrous mistake.

“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.”

The union cited overcrowded platforms

Problems leading up to Christmas

The underground and rail services in London have been hit by major strife in the lead up to Christmas, with a shortage of Piccadilly line trains causing severe delays since the middle of November, and Southern Rail strikes bringing trains to a stand still.

RMT is embroiled in a bitter dispute with Southern Rail over the role of conductors.

A total of nine days strike action affecting Southern Rail were planned between December 13 and January 14, including New Year's Eve (December 31) through to Monday, January 2

'We would encourage the unions to work with us'

A statement from Transport for London said: "We have always committed to reviewing our new staffing model with the trade unions during it's first year.

"Following talks we are recruiting additional staff for stations and believe this will help us to provide a better service for our customers.

"We will continue working with the unions as well as implementing the independent recommendations made by the London TravelWatch review to ensure customers feel safe, fully supported and able to access the right assistance at all times.

"We would encourage the unions to work with us on this process rather than threatening strike action."

Mr Cash said RMT is available for talks.

Watch Sadiq Khan blame government for Southern strikes:

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