London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Tube drivers are reportedly weighing strike action over the October half period after rejecting a wage gain of £2,500 – an offer which would take the necessary salary to nearly £70,000.
What Is the Current Salary Range for Tube Drivers?
RMT is placed to ballot its members on whether to step out around Halloween after calling on Transport for London (TfL) to improve their offer. The union’s general secretary Mick Lynch is stated to favour walking out over TfL’s “neglect to table a suitable pay offer” despite the 3.8 per cent pay climb on the table. This offer would notice the base salary for a Tube driver advance from £67,100 to £69,600. Tube driver instructors, who make up about 10 per cent of the 3,300 drivers, are already on a pay of just below £70,000.
The base salary does not include additions earned by drivers working overtime and those taking more shifts can make more than £100,000 a year. RMT is running separate ballots for TfL and LUL (London Underground Limited) members over the disappointment to table a suitable pay offer for 2024 and the declaration from both companies that the gain will only be paid as a non-consolidated lump sum to any member at the top of their pay band.
How Does the RMT Plan to Address the Pay Dispute?
RMT, officially known as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, is now stated to be holding the ballot and a result is expected by October 1. A date has not yet been reported for the strike but it is said to be in the area of the half term which, for most schools, will be October 28 to November 1.
How Is TfL Responding to the Pay Dispute and Possible Strike?
TfL has stated it has offered the grade alongside a greater increase for those beneath £40,000 and provided additional revisions including increased paternity leave spokesperson told the Standard: “We are disappointed that the RMT is proposing to ballot London Underground and TfL Professional Services employees over pay and requirements.
“We have held several constructive discussions with our trade unions and have presented a pay offer. We are still considering their feedback to the offer and will continue to work with the unions to ensure that we reach a fair agreement for our hard-working colleagues that is also affordable and delivers for London. t would be in everyone’s best interest to continue to discuss this without the threat of strike action, so we can work together to support London and the wider UK economy.”