TfL boss urges union to call off Tube strike

Planned strike action by London Underground drivers should be called off, according to London's Interim Transport Commissioner

Last week it was announced members of the Aslef union are set to walkout on 15 March in a dispute over pensions and working arrangements.

In response to the action, TfL's Andy Lord said: "We're continuing to talk to all our trade unions - as we have been now for nearly two years - regarding the changes we need to make to become more efficient.

"We're not proposing any changes to pensions, nobody is going to lose their job - we're just asking people to work slightly differently."

He added: "Call off that action because it's not necessary and it's causing severe inconvenience to London and, most importantly, it's affecting our ridership and revenues at a time when we can ill afford it.

"We continue to talk and that's why I think it's a bit pointless that the action is taking place."

The walkout on March 15 follows a vote in favour of industrial action by 99% of members of Aslef on a turnout out of 77% in a ballot.

The union said the dispute is over a failure to accept that changes to working arrangements and pensions should happen by agreement.

Aslef members going on strike include thousands of drivers and some in management grades.

Finn Brennan, Aslef's full-time organiser on the underground said: "Our members are not prepared to put up any longer with the threats to their working conditions and pensions.

"We understand that Transport for London faces financial challenges, post-pandemic, but our members are simply not prepared to pay the price for the government's failure to properly fund London's public transport system.

"Cuts to safety training have already been forced through and management is open that they plan to remove all current working agreements under the guise of "modernisation" and "flexibility" and to replace the agreed attendance and discipline policies."

Brennan added: "We are always prepared to discuss and negotiate on changes, but our members want an unequivocal commitment from TfL that management will not continue to force through detrimental changes without agreement.

"Unless they are prepared to work with us, and accept that changes have to come by agreement, and bring real benefits to staff, rather than just cuts and cost savings, this will be only the first day of action in a protracted dispute."