Tube drivers have been offered a “ground-breaking” deal including a four-day week and paid meal breaks in return for calling off their strikes, it can be revealed.
Aslef, the union that represents the majority of Tube drivers, says the changes mean that drivers will be at work for 2.5 hours a week less than at present.
They will also receive an extra week’s paid paternity leave.
London Underground admits that the proposal “means fewer hours at work”.
Gareth Bacon, the Tory shadow transport secretary, described the offer as “quite unbelievable” and a “sell-out” by London mayor Sadiq Khan that would result in a worse service for passengers.
Aslef had threatened to close the London Underground on November 7 and 12 unless Transport for London made an improved offer to address what the union called “exhausting” shift patterns.
Earlier this week The Standard revealed that TfL was able to strike a peace deal with Aslef – and also the RMT a few days earlier - and get the strikes called off without having to offer a better pay deal.
As a result, all 16,500 Tube staff will receive a deal worth an average of 4.6 per cent once negotiations are concluded.
This will consist of a 3.8 per cent pay rise, plus a £450 lump sum payment, and will be backdated to April 2024.
Staff earning less than £40,000 will receive a total increase of £1,970, while Tube drivers will see an increase of 4.5 per cent, taking the salary of an experienced Tube driver to a reported £69,600.
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s London organiser, told the 2,000 Tube drivers that he represents: “When Aslef suspended our industrial action this week, we told our members that this was on the basis of a ground-breaking new offer.
“We have been clear throughout the negotiations that we needed an agreement that recognised the unique role of train drivers and that our working hours had fallen behind those of our colleagues on the Elizabeth line and London Overground.”
London Underground has agreed by January to “set out a proposal for delivering an average four-day working week with a paid meal relief included in working hours which means fewer hours at work, whilst improving the reliability and efficiency of our service and maintaining the current 35-hour contractual working week”.
The Standard was told that, in practice, it would mean drivers would take their 30-minute meal break during paid “company time” - enabling them to go home after eight hours at work rather than 8.5 hours.
The 35-hour working week will remain in place - but 2.5 hours of it will be taken as meal breaks rather than being spent in the drivers’ cab.
Mr Brennan said: “For train drivers this means a two-and-a-half-hour reduction in the working week. For the first time ever, this delivers a genuine 35-hour week.
“The reduction in working hours makes a real four-day week possible. In every 4 week pay period, you will be working 10 hours and 4 days fewer. This also means an increase in the hourly rate of pay.”
TfL sources said the four-day week would only be introduced if it could be sure that this would not affect the reliability of Tube services.
A TfL spokesman said: “Discussions are ongoing and there will be no reduction in contractual hours.
“As with any proposal, there are still details that need to be worked through and any changes would need to be mutually beneficial, preserving or improving the reliability of our service for our customers and improving efficiency. We will continue discussions with our unions.”
Mr Bacon, who represents Orpington, told The Standard: “The purpose of a transport system is to serve the passengers.
“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."
Securing a four-day working week for Tube drivers has long been an ambition for Aslef, as this would bring the Underground in line with the national railways.
Previous attempts to secure a four-day week failed because they would have resulted in longer shifts.
Aslef says the reintroduction of paid meal breaks – for the first time since 1992 - means that new rosters can be introduced.
Aslef also wants to cut the working week for Tube drivers to 32 hours.
Nick Dent, director of customer operations at London Underground, said in a letter to Aslef: “It is not affordable for us to reduce the contractual working week of 35 hours.
“We have agreed to discuss how we could develop a roadmap towards a restructured working week in a separate forum, following the conclusion of this pay negotiation.
“We anticipate that discussions will initially seek to identify where we can make progress on mutually beneficial changes, with a focus on where enhancements could be made to work-life balance.
“We believe this is a good offer for your members and our colleagues that responds the pay claims submitted. As I explained in the meeting, there are no further improvements that can now be made, and I urge you to put this offer to your members.”
