Planned strikes by RMT staff on the London Underground have been called off following talks over pay between the union and Transport for London. Workers were also set to take action on several days in the coming weeks but a union spokesperson said it had received “a significantly improved offer”. Strikes by members of the drivers’ union Aslef next week and later in the month are still scheduled to go ahead.
The RMT spokesperson added: “London Underground have sensibly abandoned their proposed changes to pay structures which now means all our members will receive the same value in any pay award.
“Further discussions will take place next week regarding the pay offer but progress has been made which would not have been possible without the fortitude and industrial strength of our 10,000 members on London Underground.”
BBC London's transport correspondent, Tom Edwards, said: “The RMT union says it has received a significantly improved offer and, although TfL says there’s no new money, something seems to have changed to get the strike suspended.
“The previous pay offer was 3.8% + £450. More talks will now take place.
“Aslef says it’s reasonably happy with the pay offer but it wants to discuss moving to a four-day week in line with other operators.
“At the moment the strike which will shut the Tube on Thursday and Tuesday 12 November is very much on.”
Claire Mann, Transport for London’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 7 and 12 November, there will be little-to-no service.”
The Impact of the Suspended Strikes
The RMT’s suspension of strike action is a major boost for London commuters, who were facing the prospect of eight days of rolling walkouts. The first RMT members were due to strike from 6pm on Friday, those staff working in the Tube’s engineering vehicles operations and maintenance teams. But passengers were not expected to notice changes to their journeys until Sunday afternoon, when services would end much earlier than normal.
The suspension of the RMT strike could also have an impact on Aslef’s planned action. If the RMT suspends its strike, Aslef may decide to do likewise. However, engineering drivers belonging to Aslef are also due to start a 24-hour strike and overtime ban from 6pm on Friday, and there is now “no prospect” of that being called off. This won’t impact passengers this weekend but will mean that engineering work planned for the coming weekend will have to be cancelled and rearranged - meaning more closures in the future.
Aslef’s Strikes Still Go Ahead
Aslef, which represents 2,000 Tube drivers, has also called strike action but most of its members are not due to walk out until next Thursday. The strikes are set to cause major disruption on the Tube network, with services expected to be severely reduced or even shut down completely on strike days. Aslef’s strikes are set to run for two days, on Thursday 7 November and Tuesday 12 November.
The Background to the Dispute
The RMT’s strike action was prompted by a pay offer from TfL that the union deemed as “wholly inadequate.” The offer did not cover collective bargaining for a large number of staff. The union had been urging TfL to offer a new deal that included collective bargaining, but when this did not happen, they opted to take strike action. Aslef’s strike action is also in protest at a pay offer that they consider to be too low. However, in addition to pay, Aslef is also seeking a four-day working week for Tube drivers.
What Happens Now
The suspension of the RMT strike opens up the possibility of a negotiated settlement to the dispute. The union is set to continue talks with TfL next week, and it is hoped that a deal can be reached that will avoid further disruption on the London Underground. However, Aslef’s strike action is still set to go ahead, and it remains to be seen whether a deal can be reached that will satisfy both the union and TfL. It’s also worth noting that the Government has told Sadiq Khan that Tube fares must rise by at least 4.6 per cent next year. This will add to commuters’ frustrations, as they are already facing the prospect of widespread disruption on the Tube network.
Commuters Should Check Before They Travel
Commuters are being advised to check before they travel, as there will be significant disruption on the Tube network in the coming weeks. Aslef’s strikes are expected to cause severe disruption, with services being reduced or even shut down completely on strike days. Even with the RMT’s strike action suspended, commuters may still face some disruption as a result of engineering works that have been cancelled due to the strike. It is expected that there will be more Tube closures in the future as a result of these cancelled works.
