Tube strikes planned for later this week called off

Planned strikes by London Underground drivers over pay have been suspended.

Members of Aslef were due to walk out on Thursday and again next Tuesday – which would have crippled Tube services.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union had already called off strikes by its members after resolving a dispute over pay.

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “Following fresh talks, and an improved offer, Aslef has agreed to suspend our planned industrial action on London Underground.

“Details of the offer will be discussed with our reps at a meeting on Thursday. We are pleased that this progress has been made and that strike action has been averted at this time.”

About 2,000 Tube drivers belonging to Aslef were due to walk out, with each strike beginning at midnight and lasting 24 hours.

Transport for London warned passengers that the Tube would be forced to close if the strikes go ahead. Knock-on disruption in the morning following the strikes is also expected.

TfL invited all four Tube unions – Aslef, the RMT, Unite and the TSSA – to talks starting at 10am on Tuesday which ended in the agreement.

This follows the RMT, which represents 10,000 Tube staff, deciding last Friday to suspend its strike action, despite TfL insisting that no extra money was offered.

Speaking to The Standard on Tuesday morning ahead of the talks, Mr Brennan, Aslef’s London regional organiser, said the dispute was not primarily about pay but about improving drivers’ working conditions.

Aslef has a long-term aim of securing Tube drivers a 32-hour, four-day working week.

Mr Brennan said the “ball is in TfL’s court” and admitted: “I’m not optimistic for a resolution.”

He said: “We are here to listen. These are negotiations that should have finished back in April. But after six months of talks, our members’ patience has been exhausted.