‘No Night Tube until next year’
Unions’ claims as talks stall again
THE Night Tube service, originally due to launch last month, is now unlikely to start until next year.
That’s according to union bosses after their talks with London Underground (LU) reportedly broke down without an agreement.
Finn Brennan, from the union ASLEF, said: “We have made it clear to London Underground that we want to keep talking and develop a solution that delivers Night Tube while protecting and improving the work-life balance for our members.
“We have put forward a number of proposals to resolve this dispute in a way that is fair and benefits both sides. LU have rejected them all. Most disappointingly of all, they have decided to blackmail their own employees by refusing to make a pay offer unless staff agree to worsen their working conditions.”
Before the September postponement, Mayor of London Boris Johnson was insisting the launch would come in the autumn.
However, RMT union boss Mick Cash claimed Boris, who is also the MP for South Ruislip and Uxbridge, had called his officials while overseas and instructed them to “kick the Night Tube into next year”.
Mr Cash added: “No one wins from this situation – neither Londoners or Tube staff. RMT supports the principle of a Night Tube with properly agreed reward and rosters and the union remains available for further constructive talks.”
LU chief operating officer Steve Griffiths said: “Not only are the unions at risk of depriving millions of customers of their Night Tube service, they are depriving employees of a very fair pay offer and longer term opportunities to improve work-life balance even further.”