The RMT wants pay rises for its members

Talks to avert a strike on the underground, with the RMT union demanding a minimum �22,000 for its members, will resume on Monday.

London Underground (LU) is hoping to negotiate a four-year deal in a bid to avoid the annual battle over pay.

The union said 10 June would be a likely date for a walkout as it would take that long to ballot members.

Bobby Law, RMT London regional organiser, said: "We are not doing it to coincide with the election.

Driver sacked

"By law, it will take us until that period to ballot our members and if the action happens to take place on the 10 June then so be it."

LU said the talks to avoid industrial action had been constructive so far. They were adjourned on Friday.

LU also revealed a Tube driving instructor was sacked for watching a DVD inside a cab

The man was suspended over allegations he used a personalised player while supervising a trainee on a Northern Line train last month.

LU has stressed the driver, who has seven days to appeal, was not driving.

A spokesman for the company said: "Watching a DVD while training a Tube driver clearly breaches a reasonable person's understanding of common sense."