Noah Vickers
Sat 19 October 2024
London Mayor Sadiq Khan 'confident' November Tube strikes will be called off
Sadiq Khan has said he is “confident” that Tube strikes planned by unions to take place in the first half of November will be called off.
The mayor said Transport for London (TfL) was engaged in talks with both the RMT and Aslef unions and he was “hopeful” that their demands could be negotiated “amicably”.
Aslef, the drivers’ union, has called two 24-hour strikes on November 7 and 12, while the RMT has told its members – who include drivers, signallers and station staff - to walk out on different days between November 1 and 8.
Mr Khan told the Standard on Friday: “I don’t want strikes. The trade unions don’t want to strike. TfL doesn’t want strikes. Londoners don’t want strikes.
“The way to resolve these things is to get round the table and resolve them amicably… Earlier on this year, one of the trade unions was threatening a week’s worth of strikes - we resolved those amicably. In the spring, there were threats of strike action and we resolved those amicably. I’m hopeful and confident we’ll resolve these as well.”
The mayor was referring to strike action threatened by the RMT in January this year - which was averted after Mr Khan decided to use £30m of City Hall funding, enabling pay negotiations to restart.
Asked whether he may have to find a similar sum of money to avert November’s strikes, the mayor played down the significance of funding alone, saying: “I think the trade unions have said they’re not [just] after additional remuneration in their wages - there’s a package of measures they want to be responded to, and those packages of measures are what TfL and the trade unions will be discussing.”
The RMT has said it wants a new pay offer to be applied consistently to all of its members, rather than only some staff receiving it through TfL’s use of pay banding.
Aslef is meanwhile seeking to reach a new pay agreement with London Underground, which has offered a 3.8 per cent pay rise and a variable lump sum, according to reports. The union is concerned that the offer would leave members on a lower salary than drivers on other TfL services, such as the Elizabeth line and Overground.
Separately, RMT members have voted in favour of action short of a strike due to noise levels on the Victoria line.
The union’s members plan to reduce train speeds to below 50mph in order to lessen the screeching sounds created by the wheels on the track.
Mr Khan said: “I understand the concerns raised by the trade unions and I’ve discussed this with them.
“We had to slow down the pace of remediation [work to make the tracks smoother and less noisy] because of the pandemic, and then had financial problems. Frankly speaking, we had to reduce it [the remediation work].
“We didn’t have a capital deal. The capital deal we have from the Government last year is only £250m. It’s a lot of money, but it’s not enough. We spend about £2bn on capital.
“So what we’re trying to do is invest in the remediation work required - we’re doing that. The pace of progress isn’t what I’d like it to be, but I’d ask the trade unions to bear with me.
“I understand the complaints they’ve got. It’s raised not just by those who work in the Tubes, it’s raised by passengers and I suffered it myself today using the Victoria line. So I get it, and we’ll try and work with the trade unions to resolve this.”
What London Underground lines will be affected by strikes?
Emilia Kettle
Wed 23 October 2024 at 10:00 am GMT-6·3-min read
Staff on the London Underground will be striking in November, find out what Tube lines will be affected. (Image: Getty)
Travelling around London is expected to be a lot harder than normal in the coming month as thousands of Tube workers will take strike action.
It comes as union Aslef announced drivers on the Tube would conduct two 24-hour walkouts across two weeks.
The Tube strikes will likely cause the London Underground to shut down and affect many travel plans.
People have been urged by Transport for London (TfL) to check and plan ahead before travelling out on the days Tube workers will be striking.
So you don't get caught out, here are the lines set to be affected by Tube strikes this November.
What Tube lines are affected by strikes in November?
TfL has said that it is too early to say exactly what lines will be impacted by the Tube strikes in November.
But a spokesperson for TfL did warn that the strikes will likely result in many services not running on days drivers will walk out.
Adding that on days that station staff are on strike, Underground services should be able to run as normal but some stations may be closed.
TfL added that more exact details on affected lines and stations would be confirmed closer to the time of the strikes.
This article will be updated with the latest information once TfL confirm you can also check the TfL website for updates.
Why are Tube workers going on strike?
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because LU management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.
“Our members voted by over 98% in favour of strike action, but Underground management are still refusing to even discuss key elements of our claim.
“They refuse to discuss any reduction in the working week or introducing paid meal relief to bring Underground drivers in line with those on the Elizabeth line and London Overground.”
Aslef said a pay offer of 3.8%, plus a variable lump sum, means Underground drivers will stay on a lower salary than drivers on other Transport for London services while working longer hours.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “London Underground’s pay offer falls short of what our members deserve. It threatens to remove collective bargaining for a growing portion of staff, pushing them into pay bands that are decided solely by management. This undermines our members’ rights and the core principles of fair negotiation.
“No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management decides which of our members gets a pay rise and those who do not.
“We have repeatedly urged London Underground to offer a deal that ensures all staff are covered by collective bargaining, yet management remains fixated on imposing pay structures without our agreement.
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When are the London Tube strikes in November 2024?
“Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action to defend their terms and conditions.
“We remain open to negotiations, but London Underground must come back to the table with a comprehensive, consolidated offer that respects the rights of all our members. Until then, our industrial action will continue as planned.”
The RMT said around 10,000 of its members are involved in the dispute, adding that it remains ready to engage in talks but insisted that a “fair and fully consolidated” pay offer must be put forward.
The exact dates of the Tube strikes as thousands to be affected
Emilia Kettle
Tue 22 October 2024
Travellers on the London Underground can expect serious travel disruption during November.
It comes as union Aslef announced drivers on the Tube would conduct two 24-hour walkouts across two weeks.
The Tube strikes will likely cause the London Underground to shut down and affect many travel plans.
People have been urged by Transport for London (TfL) to check and plan ahead before travelling out on the days Tube workers will be striking.
When are the Tube strikes in November 2024?
The strike dates are as follows:
Friday, November 1 - ASLEF/ RMT engineering drivers to strike from 6pm for 24 hours
Saturday, November 2 - Strikes end at 5.59pm
Sunday, November 3 - RMT access controllers, control centre staff and power/control staff to strike from 6.59am
Monday, November 4 - RMT emergency response unit staff to strike. The previous day strikes to end at 6.59am.
Tuesday, November 5 - RMT fleet, engineering, stations and train staff to strike all day.
Wednesday, November 6 - RMT signallers/service controllers all-day strike.
Thursday, November 7 - ASLEF train operators, instructors and managers, all day strike.
Friday, November 8 - RMT signallers, and service controllers to strike all day.
Saturday, November 9 - ASLEF manager overtime ban.
Sunday, November 10- ASLEF manager overtime ban.
Monday, November 11 - ASLEF manager overtime ban.
Tuesday, November 12 - ASLEF train operators, instructors and management, all-day strike.
Wednesday, November 13 - ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
Thursday, November 14 - ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
Friday, November 15 - ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
Saturday, November 16 - ASLEF manager overtime ban ends at 11.59pm.
Why are Tube drivers going on strike?
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because LU management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.
“Our members voted by over 98% in favour of strike action, but Underground management are still refusing to even discuss key elements of our claim.
“They refuse to discuss any reduction in the working week or introducing paid meal relief to bring Underground drivers in line with those on the Elizabeth line and London Overground.”
Aslef said a pay offer of 3.8%, plus a variable lump sum, means Underground drivers will stay on a lower salary than drivers on other Transport for London services while working longer hours.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “London Underground’s pay offer falls short of what our members deserve. It threatens to remove collective bargaining for a growing portion of staff, pushing them into pay bands that are decided solely by management. This undermines our members’ rights and the core principles of fair negotiation.
“No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management decides which of our members gets a pay rise and those who do not.
“We have repeatedly urged London Underground to offer a deal that ensures all staff are covered by collective bargaining, yet management remains fixated on imposing pay structures without our agreement.
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London Underground workers to go on strike next month
“Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action to defend their terms and conditions.
“We remain open to negotiations, but London Underground must come back to the table with a comprehensive, consolidated offer that respects the rights of all our members. Until then, our industrial action will continue as planned.”
The RMT said around 10,000 of its members are involved in the dispute, adding that it remains ready to engage in talks but insisted that a “fair and fully consolidated” pay offer must be put forward.
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