Tube dispute shelved after Livingstone intervenes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A bitter pay dispute that has led to two 24-hour strikes on the London Underground and cost the economy an estimated £125m was shelved last night.
Union leaders accepted the opportunity to go to mediation once the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, takes control of the Tube system next year. Even though that will not happen for several months, leaders of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union and Aslef said they believed it would lead to a large pay rise for their members.
The executives of the two unions met Mr Livingstone for an hour before deciding to end the threat of further strikes. The mediation will take place under the chairmanship of Professor Frank Burchill of Keele University and any outcome will be backdated to 1 April this year.
Mr Livingstone hopes to have control of the Tube passed to him by February to April next year. His lawyers will be looking at any legal implication, if any, of the announcement in which he promises to help to resolve the dispute while he is not in charge of the Underground.
Mr Livingstone said last night: "This strike has been very much about management opposing a settlement and ignoring the agreed procedure. It will be ridiculous to allow strikes to continue week in and out for months to come when there is a way forward."
One of the first tasks that Bob Kiley, the transport commissioner, would undertake when the Tube had changed hands would be to negotiate a four-year deal on pay and conditions to "bring industrial peace to the Underground", Mr Livingstone said.
Tim Collins, the shadow Transport Secretary, said: "Londoners will be delighted that the Tube strikes are now off, but horrified that Ken Livingstone has capitulated completely to the worst kind of trade union militancy.
"He has sent a signal to every union in London that behaving atrociously pays dividends and that the more suffering you cause the more likely it is that London's Mayor will side with you."
Bob Mason, human resources director for London Underground, said the issue remained unresolved. "We believe that this year's 3 per cent pay award is a fair one," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments