RMT rejects Tube pay offer for Olympic Games Leaders of thousands of London Underground workers formally declared a dispute today after lack of progress in reaching a deal over payment for working during the Olympic Games. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has rejected an offer of up to £500 for Tube staff, saying there were too many strings attached to the proposed deal. The union also announced it is to ballot hundreds of administrative staff it represents at Transport for London (TfL) for industrial action over "severely restricted" annual leave during the Games this summer. Officials claimed that leave had been banned altogether for the duration of the Games in one department, saying this would make life "impossible" for many staff, especially those with school-age children. The RMT has struck several deals with rail companies for extra pay during the London Games, including a bonus of £500 for staff at Virgin Trains and Network Rail, £600 for London Overground workers and an agreement with Docklands Light Railway which union officials said could be worth up to £2,500. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT reiterates our stance that all grades of transport employees are entitled to a decent financial reward for their efforts transporting huge numbers of passengers during the Olympics and are entitled to take leave during the summer. Working conditions and important agreements should not and need not be attacked in order to facilitate Olympic running. Unite is seeking a £500 payment on behalf of thousands of London bus workers for working during the Olympics. Unions argue that their members will have to work extra or longer shifts, change working arrangements and be under increased pressure because of the huge numbers of sports fans travelling in London this summer.