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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tube strike suspended by unions | Tube strike suspended by unions |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two 24-hour Tube strikes planned for this week have been called off after talks between unions and London Underground (LU) managers. | Two 24-hour Tube strikes planned for this week have been called off after talks between unions and London Underground (LU) managers. |
| Tube workers have been in dispute with LU over rotas and working conditions on the new Night Tube service. | Tube workers have been in dispute with LU over rotas and working conditions on the new Night Tube service. |
| The Unite union said it had suspended its action as a "gesture of goodwill" to allow further talks. | The Unite union said it had suspended its action as a "gesture of goodwill" to allow further talks. |
| Unions have put forward new strike dates of 8 and 10 September if a deal is not reached. | Unions have put forward new strike dates of 8 and 10 September if a deal is not reached. |
| 'Sticking points' | |
| The industrial action scheduled for Wednesday and Friday would have been the third round of strikes this summer, following walkouts on 8-9 July and 5-6 August. | The industrial action scheduled for Wednesday and Friday would have been the third round of strikes this summer, following walkouts on 8-9 July and 5-6 August. |
| Unite regional officer Hugh Roberts said there were some "remaining sticking points" but the union felt enough progress had been made to suspend industrial action. | |
| He said he hoped LU would "seize this opportunity to reach a deal that fully addresses our members' concerns". | |
| Rail union leaders met LU managers under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas on Monday in the hope of reaching a last-minute deal. | Rail union leaders met LU managers under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas on Monday in the hope of reaching a last-minute deal. |
| The drivers' union Aslef had already decided not to strike. | The drivers' union Aslef had already decided not to strike. |
| Analysis | |
| By BBC London transport correspondent Tom Edwards | |
| A sigh of relief for many Londoners tonight, but it's not completely over yet. It's worth remembering those potential strike dates on 8 and 10 September. | |
| That's two days before the Night Tube is meant to be introduced and the Tube unions had obviously picked those dates for a reason. | |
| It will certainly add to the pressure to try and resolve it. However, I do detect from both sides that there is some hope that this can all be sorted out. | |
| The key question is: is the Night Tube going to go ahead on 12 September? It doesn't look too hopeful at the moment. | |
| The night service was originally scheduled to start at weekends from 12 September. | The night service was originally scheduled to start at weekends from 12 September. |
| LU has said it is operationally ready for the launch but unions believe it will be delayed because of the protracted row. | LU has said it is operationally ready for the launch but unions believe it will be delayed because of the protracted row. |
| 'Unnecessary strike' | |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson welcomed the suspension of what he called "an unnecessary strike that would have caused huge inconvenience to Londoners and businesses". | |
| He continued: "I would urge the unions to continue with positive discussions that will help to deliver a night Tube service that will bring huge benefits to our city." | |
| General secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, Mick Cash, praised the union's negotiators for making "significant progress". | |
| He warned: "We have still not reached a final agreement and as a result we are putting on additional strike action next month." | |
| The leader of another union to suspend its action, Manuel Cortes of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) said: "We are not out of the woods yet." | |
| The unions have argued that proposals for the running of the Night Tube do not allow their members a reasonable work-life balance. | |
| Nick Brown, LU's managing director, said: "It is good news for London that the strike has been suspended. | |
| "We will now continue to work with the unions so that we can resolve this dispute and get on with delivering for our customers, businesses and London." |