Waching daily Feb 14 2019

Tube staff are threatening industrial action after bosses decided to make them wear red vests which they say are hot and patronising

The RMT union said on Wednesday that its members would be balloted on taking 'action short of a strike' in a protest against the so-called 'gilets rouge', a reference to the 'gilet jaunes' protest movement in France

Transport for London introduced the tabards on Sunday in an effort to help passengers spot Underground staff

But some Tube workers are already refusing to wear the reversible garments on the basis that they make workers overheat

A ballot is now due to be held and staff plan to ditch the vests across the Tube network in protest

Darren Smith, a TfL guard at Liverpool Street station, said: 'I'm lucky in that they don't make them in XXL so I can't wear it

We just find the "happy to help" message on the back really patronising and insulting

'We weren't consulted at all.We just got an email come through saying we have to wear them

' He added: 'Only my manager wears his.Everyone else is wearing the old ones in protest

' The vests carry a 'Here to help' message on the back and are orange on the inside

Staff are expected to wear the red side in ticket halls and switch to orange when on platforms dispatching trains and in emergencies

But the RMT claimed the design change was a 'pathetic' attempt to cover up for staff cuts by making staff more visible

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the 'imposition' of the red vests was an 'ill-conceived' attempt to cover-up the 'intentional lack of staff on our stations due to cost-cutting exercises'