Tube Unions Call Off Planned Strike


Progress in talks over night tube leads to reconsideration of industrial action

A new pay offer has prompted two of the tube unions planning to strike later this month to call off industrial action.

After meeting with management at the conciliation service ACAS representatives of the train drivers' union ASLEF have said that the talks made ‘good progress’. The majority of drivers on the network are members of ASLEF and without their support it is unlikely that a strike by other unions would be as effective.

Another union, the TSSA have also said they would not be participating in the 24-hour walkouts. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) is due to make a decision on Monday.

The new deal for London Underground staff includes a 36 hour four day week, a 2% pay rise in the first year, RPI inflation or 1% (whichever is greater) in the next two years, and RPI plus 0.25% or 1% (whichever is greater) in the following year, plus a £500 bonus for staff working on the night tube.

Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s organiser for drivers on London Underground, said, 'The determination of our members brought London Underground management back to the table. We have dragged them kicking and screaming into the 21st century with an agreement to deliver modern, flexible working patterns for our members and an above inflation pay rise.'

TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes warned that strike action pencilled in for February may still go ahead as he says the union remains in dispute with London Underground management over issues surrounding passenger and industry safety.

'Londoners should have been using a night tube service since the beginning of December and would have if management hadn't dragged this dispute out for months. We are not the unreasonable ones. Our members have been deprived of a pay rise for over a year and are having new conditions imposed on them by LU which aren't thought through and raise serious concerns about passenger and industry safety.'

The introduction of a night time service in some lines of the tube was due to take place last September. Despite the suspension of industrial action there is no indication of when the service will be introduced.

January 22, 2016