21.01.16
Aslef abandons Night Tube strike plans
One of the three rail unions that was still threatening to strike in January and February over the Night Tube pay offer has suspended the action after talks progressed further.
Aslef’s organiser for drivers, Finn Brennan, confirmed that talks at Acas had made good progress yesterday, with London Underground managers putting fresh offers on the table.
“The negotiating team is now reporting to the Aslef executive committee with a recommendation that the planned industrial action be suspended,” he 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.”
Separately, the TSSA union, the latest union to join the Night Tube strike brigade just two days ago, said negotiators will meet with union representatives this afternoon to discuss the fresh offer.
But its general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said no decision on whether to suspend the strike action will be taken until after the meeting.
A spokesperson for the RMT union said its officials were presented with a revised set of proposals by London Underground during the Acas talks yesterday, but have not yet considered it in enough detail to decide whether to pull out from industrial action.
And Unite, originally meant to strike alongside RMT and Aslef, suspended the action earlier this week in order to allow for further constructive talks.
Officials from Transport for London said they would be writing to the unions today to confirm their offer.
If RMT and TSSA reject the new offer again, 24-hour strikes are expected to take place on 26 January and 15 and 16 February.