RMT suspends tube strikes suspended after ‘positive’ talks with TfL
The planned strikes, which were expected to cost the hospitality sector in the region of £50m in lost sales, would have seen little or no service across the capital's entire network from Sunday evening (7 January) to Friday morning (12 January).
However, on Sunday evening it was announced that the walkouts would no longer go ahead after an ‘intervention’ by London Mayor Sadiq Khan led to pay talks being reopened.
In a statement, a TfL spokesperson said: “[On Sunday] we were made aware that the Mayor was able to provide additional funds to enable discussions with the unions to continue.
“This intervention from the Mayor has been discussed with the unions, and the RMT union has now suspended the planned strike action.
“However, as the action has been suspended at this late stage, Londoners will still face disruption [on Monday (8 January)].
“We will now meet with representatives of all the unions to agree on the best way for this funding to be used to resolve the current dispute. We will also seek to meet as soon as possible with the unions representing TfL staff.”
Plans for the tube strikes came after RMT members voted against the latest pay offer of 5% at the end of last year.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available.
“This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting into urgent negotiations with TfL in order to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute.”
The ongoing industrial action on the railways, which started in June 2022, has had a major impact on the hospitality sector, with UKHospitality previously estimating that the strikes have so far cost the sector in the region £4bn.
Writing on X this morning, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Good to have strikes called off at 11th hour, but undoubtedly too late to reverse all the cancellations and changed plans.
“Hopefully it does lead to a final resolution.”
