COMMUTER chaos is feared next Friday, after tube maintenance workers voted overwhelmingly to strike in support of their colleagues who were sacked following the discovery of hundreds of empty beer cans in their staff room at Farringdon Station.

Friday March 12 is the proposed date of the strike which will cripple the lines covering the West London area, including the District, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and East London lines. It is feared that this could be the largest industrial action seen on the tube for over 18 months, affecting around 1.4 million commuters.

The members of the RMT voted five to one in favour of the strike action, a result which RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said was "overwhelming."

While LU has commented that, as the dispute is between Metronet and the RMT, its staff should continue to work during the strike, there are still fears that drivers may join in the action if issues of safety arise.

Drinking alcohol or being in possession of alcohol while on duty is strictly against the regulations.

While Metronet have not suggested that the men had been drinking, more than 100 cans of larger and a brandy bottle were found in the mess room in Farringdon. Metronet argue that the workers had known about the alcohol stored on the premises and this in itself was in breach of company rules.

Fifteen track maintenance workers were initially suspended after the find, despite the men denying any knowledge of the alcohol.

Eight workers were subsequently dismissed in November, while the other seven returned to work after disciplinary action was not pursued.

Bob Crow accused the management of conducting a "witch hunt" against those dismissed and making the workers "scapegoats." He warned that unless the workers were reinstated there would be "serious disruption" during the strike.

However, David Crawley, the Metronet's managing director, argued that the RMT was intent on causing disruption on the tube and was adamant that he would not be "distracted" from maintaining safety.