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London Underground drivers' union decides not to join latest tube strikes London Underground drivers' union decides not to join latest tube strikes
(35 minutes later)
Train drivers who are members of the Aslef union will not take part in strike dates set for later this month, union sources said, as it emerged that London transport bosses were likely to delay the introduction of 24-tube services. Train drivers who are members of the Aslef union will not take part in strike dates set for later this month, union sources said, as it emerged that London transport bosses were likely to delay the introduction of 24-hour tube services.
The Press Association said the union had decided not to take part in the two 24-hour strikes, called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Unite.The Press Association said the union had decided not to take part in the two 24-hour strikes, called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Unite.
It is the first sign of division in the ranks of the unions. Sources at Aslef said further talks will be held in a bid to resolve the long-running row, PA reported. It is the first sign of division in the ranks of the unions. Sources at Aslef said further talks will be held in an attempt to resolve the long-running row over all-night services, PA reported.
The news agency also said the 12 September start date for new all-night Tube service is expected to be delayed. The news agency also said the 12 September start date for the 24-hour tube at weekends is expected to be delayed.
Earlier, Transport for London claimed that demands imposed by the unions would cost £1.4bn and hit Londoners with an extra 6.5% fare increase. Earlier, Transport for London (TfL) claimed that demands imposed by the unions would cost £1.4bn and hit Londoners with an extra 6.5% fare increase.
“New demands made by certain trade union leaderships over the modernisation of London Underground, including the introduction of the night tube would lead to significantly higher fares for LU customers or spell wholesale delay to vital improvements to London’s tube service,” TfL said in a statement, designed to win over public opinion as the dispute escalates. “New demands made by certain trade union leaderships over the modernisation of London Underground, including the introduction of the night tube, would lead to significantly higher fares for LU customers or spell wholesale delay to vital improvements to London’s tube service,” TfL said in a statement, designed to win over public opinion as the dispute escalates.
Related: Tube strikes: London Underground workers to stage two more walkouts
TfL said a 6.5% rise in fares would mean an annual zone 1-2 travelcard immediately rising by an extra £83 and an annual zone 1-6 travel card costing an extra £152.TfL said a 6.5% rise in fares would mean an annual zone 1-2 travelcard immediately rising by an extra £83 and an annual zone 1-6 travel card costing an extra £152.
“Having previously argued that it was all about ‘work-life balance’, certain unions have now made a whole series of unaffordable demands for more pay, shorter working hours and the reversal of the modernisation of the tube,” said Steve Griffiths, LU’s chief operating officer. Steve Griffiths, LU’s chief operating officer, said: “Having previously argued that it was all about ‘work-life balance’, certain unions have now made a whole series of unaffordable demands for more pay, shorter working hours and the reversal of the modernisation of the tube.”
TfL released the figures as London Underground (LU) and four unions were holding a new round of talks under the auspices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) to break a deadlock that has already led to two tube strikes in past weeks with the prospect of further stoppages. TfL released the figures as LU and the four unions were holding a new round of talks under the auspices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) to break a deadlock that has already led to two tube strikes in the past few weeks, with the prospect of further stoppages.
Mick Cash, the general secretary of RMT, immediately hit back at what he described as scare tactics. Mick Cash, the general secretary of the RMT, immediately hit back at what he described as scare tactics.
“This is blatant scaremongering on figures cobbled together on the back of a fag packet before any agreement has been reached on issues of pay and rewards and are completely meaningless,” Cash said. He said: “This is blatant scaremongering on figures cobbled together on the back of a fag packet before any agreement has been reached on issues of pay and rewards and are completely meaningless.”
Commuters face widespread disruption after three unions said they will take further strike action the week after next. Members of the RMT, Unite and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association intend to walk out for 24 hours from the evenings of 25 and 27 August, threatening to disrupt services for days in the run-up to the August bank holiday weekend. Commuters face widespread disruption after the three unions said they will take further strike action the week after next. RMT, Unite and TSSA members intend to walk out for 24 hours from the evenings of 25 and 27 August, threatening to disrupt services for days in the runup to the August bank holiday weekend.
Nick Brown, the LU managing director, said he hoped progress would be made in the latest talks, following fruitless discussions on Monday. He rejected union claims of “rosters from hell” to run the planned night tube service and said concerns over work-life balance had been taken into account.Nick Brown, the LU managing director, said he hoped progress would be made in the latest talks, following fruitless discussions on Monday. He rejected union claims of “rosters from hell” to run the planned night tube service and said concerns over work-life balance had been taken into account.
Brown told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have made the rosters available so frontline staff can see them and we want to discuss these with the trade unions. The discussions have been going on for many, many months.Brown told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have made the rosters available so frontline staff can see them and we want to discuss these with the trade unions. The discussions have been going on for many, many months.
“We are adding 500 extra staff across the network, train operators, station staff, engineering staff for the night tube – we are not going into it lightly, we have given many assurances and after the first dispute we reshaped the content of our offer … to take on board the work-life balance issues the unions raised.“We are adding 500 extra staff across the network, train operators, station staff, engineering staff for the night tube – we are not going into it lightly, we have given many assurances and after the first dispute we reshaped the content of our offer … to take on board the work-life balance issues the unions raised.
“But now they have pulled it back to actually asking about money and the lie to that statement is given by the fact they demanded more money on Monday night.”“But now they have pulled it back to actually asking about money and the lie to that statement is given by the fact they demanded more money on Monday night.”
Cash said LU was trying to cover up the impact of action short of a strike on today’s services, particularly on the District line. Cash said LU was trying to cover up the impact of action short of a strike on Wednesday’s services, particularly on the District line.
“RMT will be raising again today serious concerns that safety tolerances are being fudged and breached to try to keep services running, threatening passengers and staff alike,” he said. “The solution to this dispute is serious negotiations around the work-life balance issues that have led to the action, not a cavalier attitude to safety to try and cover up the impact.” He said: “The RMT will be raising again today serious concerns that safety tolerances are being fudged and breached to try to keep services running, threatening passengers and staff alike. The solution to this dispute is serious negotiations around the work-life balance issues that have led to the action, not a cavalier attitude to safety to try and cover up the impact.”
The planned night tube service – 24-hour services on central London lines on weekends – is due to commence on 12 September, but the dispute threatens to push back the start date.