London Underground November 2024 Tube strikes suspended | UK News
Londoners can let out a sigh of relief after all the upcoming Tube strikes have been called off by Aslef.
It comes after the RMT union had already called off its walk-out which would have impacted Tube travel this week after reaching an agreement over pay.
Now the drivers’ union Aslef has also cancelled its industrial action which was set to paralyse the Underground tomorrow and Tuesday.
Aslef’s full-time organiser Finn Brennan said it agreed to suspend the planned strike action ‘following fresh talks and an improved offer.’
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said the transport authority is ‘pleased’ after the decision and that ‘Londoners will not be disrupted this week or next.’
She said: ‘We believe that we have made an offer to our trade unions that is fair, affordable, good for our colleagues and good for London – and we urge our trade unions to continue working with us.’
Brennan added that the union will discuss the offer with its reps at a meeting today.
‘We are pleased that this progress has been made and that strike action has been averted at this time,’ he added.
When were the strikes going to happen?
Now that all the strikes have been cancelled, the Tube is set to be running as normal on Thursday, November 7, and Tuesday, November 12.
Without the agreement, the Tube would have been left with no service tomorrow and little to no service on Tuesday.
Why were the strikes planned?
Aslef said a pay offer of 3.8% plus a variable lump sum means Underground drivers will stay on a lower salary than other drivers working across TfL despite working longer hours.
The union claimed it has been ‘forced into this position because LU [London Underground] management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.’
Aslef’s London Underground organiser, Finn Brennan, said: ‘Our members voted by over 98% in favour of strike action, but Underground management are still refusing to even discuss key elements of our claim.
‘They refuse to discuss any reduction in the working week or introducing paid meal relief to bring Underground drivers in line with those on the Elizabeth line and London Overground.’
Brennan said on Friday that the union is ‘available to meet all week and ready to negotiate,’ claiming that the London Underground management has ‘failed to engage in any talks.’
He said the union gave ‘more notice’ of the strike action than is required by law to allow extra time for negotiations ‘so that the dispute could be resolved without a strike.’
How did TfL react to the strike plan?
TfL told Metro it was ‘pleased’ about the RMT decision to suspend its industrial action ‘to allow further talks.’
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: ‘We are pleased that the RMT has suspended its planned industrial action on the London Underground network to allow further talks. We believe that our offer is fair, affordable, good for our colleagues and good news for London.
‘We will continue to work closely with all our trade unions, and urge ASLEF to also call off its planned action next week. If it goes ahead customers should check before they travel as during their strikes on November 7 and 12 there will be little to no service.’
TfL said previously it was ‘disappointing’ that the unions announced their industrial action after ‘several constructive discussions with our trade unions’ and its revised offer of 4.6%.