RMT says the ball’s in London Underground’s court at today’s ACAS talks as solid strikes follow company rejection of union offer.

Ahead of more ACAS talks taking place today, RMT has called on London Underground managers to abandon their intransigent stance after another night of strike action over the Night Tube dispute.

Friday’s strike action, which the union described as rock solid, took place after London Underground managers rejected an offer from the union that would have allowed the action to be suspended.

RMT offered that if London Underground agreed in writing to recruit new part-time Night Tube drivers and guaranteed the principles of the 2016 agreement, which ensured that drivers would only be expected to work night tube shifts on a voluntary basis that would entail no more weekend working, the union would suspend the strikes and would even operate the disputed rosters on a temporary basis until the new model was up and running. The union also offered to allow more ongoing flexibility so that drivers might cover Night Tube shifts on a voluntary basis.

London Underground managers admitted that this was an improved offer and even conceded that it would be ‘cost-neutral’ to run. However, they also rejected the offer for ‘mainly financial reasons’, citing the cost of training the new drivers.

In a new briefing, RMT points out that if the action continues much longer, it will soon cost London Underground more in lost passenger revenue than it would to settle the dispute.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said,

“RMT has again agreed to meet at ACAS today but the ball is firmly in London Underground’s court. They need to sort themselves out and stop the posturing because this dispute is eminently sortable.

“The cost of meeting our offer is, in real terms, minimal, whereas if they continue with their current line they will soon have lost more in passenger fares than it would take to train up 200 Night Tube drivers."