Tube strike confirmed as last-ditch talks fail

Unions have announced final talks to avoid a planned 24-hour tube have failed to reach an agreement. Almost 20,000 workers will strike from 6.30pm tomorrow in a dispute over the new all-night tube services. There will be no services at all on Thursday and disruption is expected on Friday morning.

London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer Steve Griffiths said today: “Our customers are advised to check the TfL website for the latest information as we seek to resolve the dispute and to keep London moving should the unions go ahead with their action.”

The RMT, Aslef, Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite have been in dispute over pay being offered for the new service, due to start at weekends from mid-September, as well as rosters.

The Night Tube map released by TFL in June

‘Divisive and unacceptable’

Talks which lasted all afternoon on Tuesday between transport bosses and staff unions were unable to reach a deal.

On Monday, London Underground offered a “final” deal of an average 2 per cent rise this year and £2,000 for drivers on the new all-night service.

The deal was conditional on unions responding by 6.30pm last night. The RMT described the offer as “divisive and unacceptable” and Finn Brennan, Aslef’s lead negotiator, said the offer was “designed to be divisive” because some workers were being offered more money than others.

However Mr Griffiths said: “Many of our staff will not be affected by the new services as we are operating Friday and Saturday night services on five lines.

“Londoners and businesses overwhelmingly back the night tube. It will make life better for everyone, cut journey times, create jobs and boost the economy,” he added.

Mr Brennan said today that London Underground went three months without making an offer, “then they gave four trade unions one afternoon to unconditionally accept an offer before withdrawing it”.