Tube drivers set for another three day strike

Train drivers on London Underground look set to take three days of strike action over a long-running dispute about pay and plans for an all night Tube service.

Leaders of the drivers' union Aslef will meet on Monday to decide whether to press ahead with stoppages which would cripple Tube services in the capital.

If the executive agrees, there will be a 24-hour strike from 21.14 on Wednesday, January 27 followed by two further 24 hour strikes from the same time on February 15 and February 17.

 LU has offered a four-year pay deal and said it will hire part-time drivers to staff an all-night service at weekends.

But unions have been seeking assurances for months about terms and conditions for their members.

Finn Brennan of Aslef said: 'We genuinely regret the inconvenience that will be caused by any action but the behaviour of London Underground's senior management team have left us with no other choice.

Our negotiating team last met London Underground at Acas on November 10 and since then they have refused to talk to us despite repeated requests.

Our members have been extremely patient, they have waited for more than three and half years for promised talks on improving work life balance. There is still no indication when they will receive the pay rise that was due last April.

'We want to see an all-night service introduced, and we are not opposed to the recruitment of part time staff.

But we will not accept a zero hours culture being introduced and working conditions undermined. 

Aslef wants a fair deal for existing staff and for new employees.

'We are ready to talk at any time to finally resolve this dispute. It is time for the mayor of London and his team at TfL to stop the political posturing and engage with us to stop London suffering more disruption.'

It means more travel misery for commuters across the capital after previous strikes last year, with 250 extra buses put on the roads in August to compensate.

Further strikes set for September were avoided at the last moment thanks to a breakthrough in crunch talks between union leaders and Underground bosses.

A spokesman for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: 'RMT's executive will be taking a report from our London regional organiser on the total breakdown of negotiations over the linked issues of night Tube and pay at a meeting on Monday.

'That report will include a number of recommendations for action in support of our members in this dispute with London Underground.

Any decisions on action are a matter for the union's executive as set out under RMT's rule book.'

The RMT is also in dispute over station staffing issues and is balloting 1,300 Tube Lines maintenance staff over pay and the night Tube.

Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer for London Underground, said: 'These latest threats to London show that the Aslef leadership is trying everything to stop the night Tube - a service which will mean easier night-time journeys for our customers, a boost to the economy of £360m, and the creation of around 700 new jobs at London Underground.

Our four-year pay offer is extremely fair. As a result of hiring new drivers, who will be on permanent, part-time contracts with the same rates of pay and the same benefits as existing drivers, we've made absolute guarantees that no current driver will have to work the night Tube unless they want to.

'This total protection of work-life balance is precisely what Aslef leaders asked for, so it is astonishing that they are now once again threatening strike action.

'The truth is that they are making excessive demands for more money, fewer hours and a four-day week and expect fare and tax payers to pick up the bill.

'That is the real reason they plan to disrupt Londoners. No employer could possibly meet such demands and strike action will change nothing. There is no more money.'