Staff at London Underground are split over whether to accepta five per cent pay rise – meaning there could be Tube strikes early nextmonth.
A total of 88 per cent of Tube drivers belonging to Aslefbacked Transport for London’s offer in a ballot – with Aslef leaders urging TfLto implement it without delay.
But the RMT, the biggest union with up to 10,000 members,including the majority of station staff, could reject the deal.
This would mean that drivers would have to wait even longerfor a pay rise, despite voting overwhelmingly in favour.
TfL says the increase, which will be backdated to April,will only be paid to all 16,000 London Underground staff if it is accepted byall unions.
TfL is now waiting until the RMT vote is revealed nextTuesday, December 19, before deciding how to proceed.
A vote in favour will enable the pay rise to be paid – but avote against is likely to mean more strikes on the Underground, probably inearly January.
Sources with a close knowledge of the situation at LondonUnderground said it would be “very complex” for TfL to award a pay rise to someTube workers and not others.
The five per cent increase was secured after months ofnegotiations that resulted in TfL increasing the size of the deal whileinsisting it was a “full and final offer”.
Under new Government laws, TfL would be able to order itsstaff to provide “minimum service levels” in the event of a strike – enablingat least 40 per cent of services to operate.
Labour mayor Sadiq Khan would have to decide whether to relyon Tory trade union restrictions to keep London moving.
This week the RMT leadership backed a call from one of itsbranches for the offer to be rejected.
The RMT Bakerloo line leaders advised its members in a poston Twitter/X that was retweeted by the RMT’s main account: “Five per cent is apay cut, strike to win a better deal!”
The RMT wants all Tube workers to receive an increase equalto the 11 per cent rate of inflation in April, with the lowest paid staffreceiving a minimum uplift of £5,000.
Tube drivers currently earn a fixed salary of £63,901 – butsome station staff earn about half that amount.
The situation is the opposite to the pay dispute on thenational railways. RMT members have accepted an offer but Aslef train driversvoted overwhelmingly last week to continue striking in pursuit of a betterdeal, having refused the four per cent offered in return for changes to workingconditions.
TfL commissioner Andy Lord said: “Pay discussions with ourtrade unions started in May this year and our offer has since increased.
“In our most recent London Underground pay talks at ACAS wemade a full and final offer to increase base pay by five per cent.
“This offer is the highest that can be offered and does nothave any conditions attached. We have asked our trade unions to considerthis full and final offer.”
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s organiser on the London Underground,said: “It is important to our members that this agreement is implemented assoon as practicable.
“Any additional delay could have serious implications forthose planning to retire in the coming months and potentially create additionaltax burdens on those continuing in employment.”
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