August 2015 TfL Tube strike called off? Union bosses at RMT to discuss new offer made by transport bosses over Night Tube dispute
Has the latest Tube strike been averted at the 11th hour? We have all our fingers and toes crossed that it could well be.
A new offer has been made to the workers affected by the Night Tube. Bosses at unions including RMT, TSSA and Aslef will meet today to discuss the offer and determine whether it goes far enough to allay their concerns. They are expected to respond formally to the offer at Acas this afternoon.
General secretary Mick Cash said at this stage the strike – which is scheduled to start at 9:30pm on Wednesday 5 August – was still on. And several hours before a formal announcement was expected to be made, one of the four unions involved in the dispute – Unite – said it was rejecting the deal.
It might be too early to get the champagne out but we're living in hope.
He said: “A new offer has been tabled.
“Our London Underground reps will meet on Monday to look at the detail and we will take a response into the Acas talks following that meeting. RMT reiterates that next week's action remains on.”
Workers have been operating with a ban on overtime since the last strike at the start of July. Further action has been introduced as tensions over the Night Tube mount.
Drivers are up in arms over the impact the Night Tube, scheduled to launch in September, will have on their "work-life balance".
Workers claim they are being forced to work more hours, and until now unions have dismissed as “divisive and unacceptable” all offers from transport bosses.
Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer of London Underground, said: “We’ve been in detailed discussions with the unions over our original pay and Night Tube offer.
"While we have explained that we could not increase its value, we have worked with the unions to re-shape it in response to their concerns over work-life balance. We have now provided a revised offer, which we believe addresses all of their concerns, rewards our hard-working staff and remains sustainable and affordable."