Tube unions will demand pay hikes for staff to cover late finish plans on weekends

- Planned extension to Tube running hours on Fri and Sat nights will mean extra pay demand- Under the plans revealed yesterday some lines will stay open to 2am- Unions say they are angry the plans were published before staff were told

Late running: Plans to run Tube lines to 2am will lead to pay hikes for staff

Dick Murray31 January 2013

Union bosses will demand pay rises for running the Tube later at night, it emerged today.

Under the plan, trains on some lines could run until 2am — at least an hour later than they do now — on Fridays and Saturdays from 2015.

The Tube’s three largest unions said they were angry with London Underground boss Mike Brown for announcing the plans in yesterday’s Evening Standard without first telling staff or starting negotiations.

Steve Grant, of train drivers’ union Aslef, said: “There will have to be major changes to shift patterns which would have a huge effect on all staff, not just drivers.

“This is definitely not just about pay. It is about changes to the working and home life of our members. We will not stand by and see any erosion of hard fought-for working conditions.”

RMT leader Bob Crow said: “Major changes to operational hours mean major changes to rosters and would require the recruitment of more staff. They would also impact on maintenance, fleet and engineering works.”

Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA union, said: “As well as safeguarding maintenance work, there are many other issues, like the health and safety of both staff and passengers, which would have to be negotiated with all the unions.

“As yet, we have had no proposals at all from Mike Brown.”

Transport for London revealed its proposals after an extension of Tube hours was highlighted in a debate hosted by the Standard on how to improve life in the capital.