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No night tube this year as talks remain deadlocked, say unions No night tube this year as talks remain deadlocked, say unions
(35 minutes later)
Talks over all-night tube provision in London have broken up without agreement and the service will not be introduced this year, according to union sources.Talks over all-night tube provision in London have broken up without agreement and the service will not be introduced this year, according to union sources.
The 24-hour service was originally due to start last month but was delayed while lengthy talks were held over pay and conditions. The 24-hour service was due to start in September but was delayed amid wrangling over pay and conditions.
Finn Brennan, district organiser for Aslef the union, confirmed talks had broken down this lunchtime. Finn Brennan, district organiser for the union Aslef, confirmed negotiations had broken down on Wednesday afternoon. “Unfortunately talks ended without any agreement,” he said. “It’s pretty clear night tubes won’t be running in this year.”
He told the Guardian: “Unfortunately talks ended today without any agreement. It’s pretty clear night tubes won’t be running in this year.” The union, which has been in discussion with tube bosses over the past three months, hopes to resume talks. Brennan said he would speak to other representatives this week to discuss what should happen next.
The union, which had been around the negotiating table for the last three months, “made it clear that we will carry on with talks,” he said. Brennan added he would now be reporting to other representatives today and tomorrow to talk about next steps. “We have put forward a number of proposals to resolve this dispute in a way that is fair and benefits both sides. London Underground have rejected them all. Most disappointingly of all, they [London Underground] have decided to blackmail their own employees by refusing to make a pay offer unless staff agree to worsen their working conditions. That is not something we are prepared to accept,” he said.
He added in a message online: “We have put forward a number of proposals to resolve this dispute in a way that is fair and benefits both sides. London Underground have rejected them all. “Underground management have completely mishandled these negotiations. They have wasted every opportunity for a settlement and seem to have been determined to provoke confrontation rather than resolution.”
Brennan said: “Most disappointingly of all they [London Underground] have decided to blackmail their own employees by refusing to make a pay offer unless staff agree to worsen their working conditions. That is not something we are prepared to accept.” Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, said the “crisis management” of the night tube project could have been avoided if London Underground “hadn’t chosen to try and railroad through imposed rosters and had stuck to the agreed negotiating framework from the off”.
“Underground management have completely mishandled these negotiations. They have wasted every opportunity for a settlement and seem to have been determined to provoke confrontation rather than resolution,” he said. “No one wins from this situation – neither Londoners nor tube staff,” he said. “RMT supports the principle of a night tube with properly agreed reward and rosters, and the union remains available for further constructive talks … RMT is frankly astounded that Boris Johnson has rung his officials from Japan and instructed them to kick the night tube into next year.”
TFL said in a statement to International Business Times: “The new service has been made possible thanks to the continued modernisation of significant parts of the Underground network and improved levels of reliability. Independent research into the economic benefits of the Night Tube found that the new service will boost jobs and help maintain London’s status as a vibrant and exciting place to live, work and visit.” Cash said RMT was seeking further urgent talks at the most senior level to get the process back on track.
A meeting on Wednesday failed to break the deadlock. TFL told the International Business Times: “The new service has been made possible thanks to the continued modernisation of significant parts of the Underground network and improved levels of reliability. Independent research into the economic benefits of the night tube found that the new service will boost jobs and help maintain London’s status as a vibrant and exciting place to live, work and visit.”
More details to follow …More details to follow …