Night Tube faces fresh setback as unions say latest offer 'simply not good enough'

Delayed: The Night Tube was due to roll out in September
PA
Tom Marshall1 December 2015

Plans for an all-night Tube service have suffered another setback after union bosses said the latest offer was “simply not good enough”.

The Night Tube was due to launch in September but has been delayed indefinitely due to a dispute over working conditions, shift patterns and pay.

London Underground tabled its latest offer in an attempt to break the deadlock last week.

But after meeting to consider the revised deal, representatives of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union today said they were still unhappy.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The feedback from the meeting is that the offer has not matched up to the expectations of our members and falls short in a number of key areas.”

Finn Brennan of Aslef, which represents 85 per cent of Tube drivers, said: "It's good to see that the RMT reps and their executive committee share our view that the current offer is simply not good enough.

"I hope that all the unions on LU will now work together to achieve a settlement that is fair for all staff."

Under the terms of the revised offer, pay rises would be be guaranteed for four years, rather than the three previously offered, and LU pledged to hire more staff.

Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer at London Underground, said: "The Night Tube will boost London's economy, support thousands of new jobs and radically cut journey times for those travelling at night or in the early morning.

“We have listened to union feedback and have made absolute guarantees which mean no existing driver will have to work the Night Tube, unless they choose to do so. Instead we will hire part-time train drivers specifically to run the service.

"We have also been working hard to secure a long term pay deal in order to provide certainty for our staff and for London, so we have now added a fourth year to the deal.

“I urge the union leaders to put this fair and affordable offer to their members."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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