Tube Strike 2016: Union and London Underground bosses set for talks to avoid further disruption

Talks will be held on Friday between Union bosses and London Underground officials with hopes of averting the forthcoming 24-hour tube strikes.

Three 24-hour tube strikes are scheduled to take place over the coming weeks as the long-running dispute over pay and plans for a ‘Night Tube’ continues.

However, under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas, London Underground will meet with the leaders of Aslef, the RMT union and Unite on Friday to try and negotiate a deal preventing the industrial action, which will cause havoc for thousands of commuters.

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s organiser on London Underground, said: “We’ll be back at Acas on Friday aiming, and hoping, to do a deal. I only hope that TfL will turn up with the same attitude.

“A world class capital city like London deserves a 24-hour service but it needs to work for those of who provide that public service, as well as for the passengers who use it, and the management at TfL.

“London Underground needs to stop bullying and start negotiating.”

As it currently stands, the first strike will begin on Tuesday 26 January, and two additional strikes will take place on Monday 15 February and Wednesday 17 February.

Hugh roberts, Unite acting national officer for rail, commented: “The sticking points are an inadequate four-year pay offer and a failure to agree over the implementation of the ‘night tube’. LUL bosses are also threatening to impose rosters and tear up agreements.

“Unite is not against the principle of the ‘night tube’ as we can see the benefits for the nocturnal economy of one of the world’s great and diverse cities. However, it should not be at the expense of our members’ work/life balance – they have families too – and they should be suitably rewarded for this work.

“LUL management can’t expect the night tube to be run on the cheap with the prospect of zero-hours contracts for drivers during this period.”

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