London Rail Union Increases Threat, Following Addition To Olympic Workload

London’s "biggest commuter rail network faces the threat of industrial action" in the days leading up to the Olympics, after its main union said that it would "ballot staff" at South West Trains in a dispute over hours and pay during the Games, according to Mark Odell of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The union said it had received assurances from South West Trains that there would be “minimal impact” from the Games, but that recent changes by the company to add services and put on later running trains would add to the workload on staff. The company said that it will be operating 1,700 trains each day, "close to the maximum number." The "extra capacity would mainly involve" lengthening existing trains with less than a 1% increase in the number of services (FINANCIAL TIMES, 6/13).