Over 1,500 members of trade union Unite employed at Transport for London (TfL) and London Underground (LU) are to be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pensions.

Following a government-requested review into pandemic-recovery funding for TfL, Unite said its members were told the value of their pensions would be cut and that the final salary scheme will end.

Ballot papers were sent out on 21 April and the ballot will close on 26 May.

If members vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could begin by mid-June, although action is likely to be coordinated with sister unions who also have members in TfL.

The Rail and Maritime Transport union previously called for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to avoid making cuts to tube workers' pension schemes amid strike action in March.

Unite regional officer Simon McCartney said: “Our members are dedicated to keeping London moving. Now they are being told that they will be poorer in old age. This is an appalling way to treat a loyal and committed workforce.

“Workers are balloting for industrial action as a last resort. Despite repeated calls to management there have been no guarantees on pensions or job cuts.”

Unite’s members at TfL are spread across eight different parts of the organisation including Dial-a-Ride, London Underground and the Croydon tram scheme.

In addition to the pension issue, Unite is balloting members in different sectors on TfL not making an ‘acceptable’ pay offer to its workers for either 2021 or 2022, while some members are also being balloted on the lack of guarantee that there will be no job losses in the organisation.

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