London underground drivers are being offered a new deal that will see them work fewer hours for more pay, including a four-day week, to try to end crippling strikes on the Tube.
Members of Aslef were due to walk out yesterday and again next Tuesday – which would have crippled Tube services. But the industrial action was called off on Tuesday after a new offer was received from Transport for London.
According to the London Standard, the deal on offer involves cutting drivers’ working hours by 2.5 hours a week, putting them on a four-day, 35-hour week. They would also get a 4.5 per cent pay increase, twice the rate of inflation.
They are also being offered an extra week of extra paternity pay and paid meal breaks, according to a leaked letter.
Gareth Bacon, the Tory shadow transport secretary, accused London mayor Sadiq Khan of a ‘sell-out’ to unions.
‘The purpose of a transport system is to serve the passengers,’ he told the paper.
‘Aslef are boasting about getting a deal with massively reduced hours and an above inflation pay rise for their members – in other words, enhanced pay for less work.
‘And who pays for this? The fare-paying passenger who will get a worse service in return. Yet another sell-out by Sadiq Khan and this rotten Labour government.’
The average Tube driver salary as of November last year was £63,901, according to a freedom of information response issued by TfL, though many are paid in excess of £70,000.
The RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) union had already called off strikes last week after resolving a dispute over pay.
Last night, Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, has said: ‘Following fresh talks, and an improved offer, Aslef has agreed to suspend our planned industrial action on London Underground.
‘Details of the offer will be discussed with our reps at a meeting on Thursday. We are pleased that this progress has been made and that strike action has been averted at this time.’
Claire Mann, Transport for London’s chief operating officer, said: ‘We are pleased that Aslef has suspended its planned industrial action on the Tube and that Londoners will not be disrupted this week or next.
‘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.’
