LONDON UNDERGROUND services are set to be disrupted by a series of 24-hour strikes, starting on Boxing Day, after London Underground turned down a claim by ASLEF for triple pay.

The union balloted its 2,200 Underground members, who were said to have voted in favour of a claim for triple pay and a day off in lieu in return for working on 26 December.

London Underground's refusal to meet the claim has been followed by the announcement of four 24-hour strikes. The first will be on Boxing Day, and others will follow on 16 January, then 3 and 13 February.

LU said the claim was 'outrageous', amid another dispute over how much support there is for the walkouts. ASLEF said 92 per cent had approved industrial action, but LU said strikes were backed by only 42 per cent.

ASLEF described its claim as 'adequate compensation' for working on Boxing Day, saying: 'The dispute concerns the union’s insistence that the day must be covered by volunteers.'

It added: 'The whole dispute has been about seeking equitable quality time off for our members but recognising those who do operate the service may need to be incentivised. The company is currently offering no additional payments for working on Boxing Day. The union says its members may need substantial incentives to volunteer.'

Howard Collins, who is the Underground's chief operating officer, branded the threatened stoppages as 'disgraceful', particularly because discussions were continuing.

He added: "LU has a long-standing agreement with all of its trade unions which cover staff working arrangements on bank holidays, and Boxing Day is included in that agreement."