Tube workers in strike ballot over pay offer

TSSA members work in roles including advising passengers at stations

Some London Underground staff could take strike action after their trade union said a pay offer from Transport for London (TfL) did not meet cost-of-living rises.

Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), who work in roles including advising passengers at stations, are being balloted on strike or other forms of industrial action. The ballot closes on 18 October.

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said members were “highly likely to vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action and action short of a strike”. She added that the issue “is wholly of London Underground's making”.

TfL said it was "disappointed" TSSA was balloting members.

'Affordable for London'

The union said the Tube operator had made an offer that would see most of the staff it represents receive a below-inflation pay rise, and that TfL was freezing most pay ranges, which it claimed raised the possibility of long-term, or indefinite, pay freezes.

Ms Eslamdoust said: "Our intention is to send a strong and clear message to London Underground (LU) that significant industrial action is on the cards across the network unless they are prepared to meet our aspirations on pay, as well as dealing positively with all other aspects of our dispute.

"We always prefer negotiating and only move towards a strike as a last resort, but the ball is now firmly in LU's court.”

A TfL spokesman said: "We have held a number of constructive discussions with our trade unions and have considered their feedback on our pay offer.

"We will continue to work with the unions to ensure that we reach a fair agreement for our hardworking colleagues that is also affordable and delivers for London.

"It 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."

TfL said that, alongside an annual pay rise, with a greater increase for those earning less than £40,000, it had also proposed additional improvements including increased paternity leave.