Two resounding ballot results have set the stage for an effective fight against Metronet's disastrous outsourcing plans [1].

Metronet workers voted by around 80% on a two-thirds turnout to strike in defence of their conditions. London Underground drivers on all lines maintained by Metronet (that's every line except the Northern and Jubilee) voted by a similar margin to take action that will enable them to refuse to drive on Metronet strike days.

Whilst RMT and Metronet continue to try to reach a deal, rank-and-file reps and activists are discussing the best tactics for the fight. We all know that 24-hour walkouts are not as effective for engineering grades as for operational grades. We need longer, more sustained action, so that management can not simply rejig train prepping, track inspections etc to stay within the rules. So we should be looking at three or more days out on strike.

LUL drivers can then refuse to drive trains that have not been preparing by qualified Metronet staff, or over track that has not been properly inspected and maintained, again by qualified Metronet staff.

RMT felt the need to ballot drivers on this, to prevent legal action of the sort that scuppered the action earlier this year on Midland Mainline [2].

Let's make this action as solid and effective as possible. Activists should get round and talk to every worker, and organise picketing at every booking-on point. Station staff should make sure that you know the issues and the arguments, to help explain things to passengers. Most importantly of all, rank-and-file reps should be deciding what sort of action we need, and how to organise it, rather than waiting for the word from Head Office.