Night Tube strike called off by Aslef and RMT unions

Night tube: Balham Underground station on the Northern line.
TfL
Francesca Gillett4 April 2017

A planned strike on London’s Night Tube has been called off by train drivers.

Saturday’s walkout, which was set to be the first ever strike on the 24-hour Underground service, was first called off by train drivers union Aslef.

The RMT union also called off its members’ involvement in the strike following meetings on Tuesday afternoon.

Union members who work on the Night Tube, which was launched last August, were due to walk out on Saturday night in protest at being blocked from applying for full-time Tube jobs.

The drivers also wanted to qualify for overtime pay.

Finn Brennan, an official at Aslef union, said they had received "additional clarification" from London Underground on its proposal to resolve the dispute.

"Our aim has always been to make sure that Night Tube drivers were not forced to remain in the role indefinitely, while new recruits took up full-time positions.

"The new proposal means that LU will fill full-time vacancies from waiting lists in line with agreements and Night Tube drivers will not be 'jumped' by new recruits."

Mr Brennan said the 100 per cent vote in favour of industrial action by Aslef members means the union has achieved a fair settlement that ensures Night Tube drivers will move to full-time roles much sooner than LU had planned.

Sadiq Khan riding the first service of the Night Tube.
Reuters

Proposals will be put to a ballot of Aslef members with a recommendation to accept.

"While my predecessor refused to engage with the unions, we've now seen a number of strikes averted because we're prepared to talk constructively to the people who work for TfL.

"As a result, the number of days lost to strikes has reduced by more than 40 per cent since I became Mayor."

Peter McNaught, Operations Director for London Underground, said: “We are pleased to have resolved the issues raised by the unions and to have clarified our agreements with them. When we introduced the service we promised to provide career progression for Night Tube train drivers and we remain committed to doing so."

Two strikes, on Saturday, April 8 and Saturday, April 28, were announced last month amid the row over how the Night Tube is staffed.

The Night Tube operates on the Central, Victoria, Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines. If Aslef train drivers were to walk out, the vast majority of services would grind to a halt.

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