Strikes


which
would
have
disrupted
London
Underground
seriously
from
today
until
Thursday
have
been
called
off,
after
progress
was
made
on
peace
talks
between
the
RMT
and
Transport
for
London
last
night.

The
walkouts
had
been
called
in
the
continuing
dispute
over
conditions
of
employment.

London
Mayor
Sadiq
Khan
said:
’I’m
delighted
that
this
week’s
strikes
have
now
been
suspended.
They
would
have
caused
huge
disruption
for
Londoners
and
would
have
been
a
major
blow
to
the
capital’s
businesses
at
the
worst
possible
time.
The
week
of
action
would
have
cost
our
hospitality
industry
£50
million
alone.

‘This
shows
what
can
be
achieved
by
engaging
and
working
with
trade
unions
and
transport
staff,
rather
than
working
against
them.
In
contrast,
the
adversarial
approach
taken
by
ministers
has
lead
to
years
of
strikes
across
the
country,
whether
on
national
rail,
or
in
our
health
and
education
services
–
all
exacerbated
by
the
cost-of-living
crisis.’

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.’

TfL
warned
that
there
could
still
be
some
disruption
to
Underground
services
this
morning,
because
the
strikes
had
been
called
off
at
the
last
minute.