London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – TfL’s union duty bill surged to £9.2m this year for 843 staff, fuelling criticism of Labour leadership as service cuts and strikes continue.
As reported by The Standard, Transport for London paid £9.2m to staff carrying out union work, with over 800 workers granted facility time.
How much does TfL spend on union time off in 2024/25?
The number of TfL employees on union duties rose to 843 in 2024/25, compared to 799 last year. Among them, 35 workers focused exclusively on union responsibilities.
The cost for allowing staff paid time off for union duties at TfL climbed £1.3m to £9.2m, the annual report shows.
The figures have increased from £5 million in 2016/17, when Sir Sadiq Khan took office as mayor.
What did Susan Hall say about TfL union costs and Labour’s impact?
Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservatives, stated,
“If the figures look bad now, just wait until Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill comes into force and supercharges the abilities of union barons to demand, demand, demand.”
He added,
“TfL is already facing eye-watering funding shortfalls which impact service quality because of Labour’s poor decisions in Government and City Hall. We must prepare for things to get much worse – and Labour is to blame.”
What did the TfL spokesperson say about union-paid time off?
A TfL spokesperson stated,
“Trade unions play an important role across London, ensuring workers are treated fairly at work.”
They added,
“In many cases, we are legally required to allow representatives paid time off to carry out union duties, and meeting these costs represented 0.40 per cent of our total wage bill in 2024/25.”
According to TfL, its approach follows Acas legislation and accords made with unions.
The transport authority said the cost of facility time is expected to rise annually due to wage increases and greater union involvement.
How many shifts were lost under Sadiq Khan’s tenure?
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who chairs the TfL board, has long defended the role of unions in supporting staff-management relations.
Strikes on the Tube were averted in April, May, and November, while a planned February walkout on the Elizabeth line was called off after a pay deal.
A written reply by Mr Khan to Conservative AM Neil Garratt revealed that 37,671 shifts have been lost to strike action on the Tube since 2016.
Key facts about Transport for London
Network reach:
- TfL manages 9,300 buses, serving around 675 routes.
- TfL also oversees London Overground, DLR, Tramlink, Elizabeth line, and Cycle Hire.
Staff & spending:
- Total workforce: 28,000+ employees.
- TfL spent £12 billion (2022–2024), supporting 100,000 UK jobs per year.
- Around £9.2 million spent in 2024/25 on staff union duties (843 staff involved)