Union calls for urgent talks over Tube dispute

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association called for urgent pay talks with Transport for London

A London Underground staff union has called for urgent pay talks with Transport for London (TfL).

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) called on TfL to "get back round the table" after the union rejected a 5% pay offer.

The union is due to ballot its staff over whether to strike.

The TfL said it could not "afford any more" than the original 5% pay offer but it had been made aware the mayor "was able to provide additional funds".

• Tube strikes called off as more pay talks planned

TfL also said that it would be entering pay talks with all of the unions.

The TSSA said its ballot process is "set to begin shortly" adding, "it is hoped that urgent talks will mean that escalation to industrial action can be avoided".

The union has "several thousand" London Underground members who include managerial and technical staff.

TSSA's general secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust, said: "Our members are ballot ready and prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure they get a fair deal.

"With reports this week that additional funding has been found, we are calling on London Underground to get back round the table.

"Only urgent talks - and a seriously improved offer which takes into account the cost-of-living crisis - will mean industrial action can be avoided.

"It is now up to London Underground, together we can strike a deal, or we will be forced to move to sustained industrial action."

On Sunday, Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) suspended scheduled strike action "with immediate effect" after Sadiq Khan intervened with funding from the Greater London Authority.

This strike action from RMT would have wiped out the network until Friday morning.

'Additional funds'

A TfL spokesperson added: "We will now meet with representatives of all the unions to agree on the best way for this funding to be used to resolve the current dispute.

"We always strive to work constructively with the unions and avoid disruption to London."

'Magic money tree'

On Monday Aslef also said it wanted to see pay negotiations "start afresh".

Finn Brennan said: "As there is more money on the table, we now want our original claim for an RPI plus pay rise of around 12% and a cut in working hours, to be met in full.

"We are very pleased that the mayor has found the magic money tree and our members expect to share the fruit."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]