Tube drivers threatening to strike if 'bosses refuse to pay them £76,000 a year'

London Underground drivers are threatening to go on strike if 'bosses refuse to pay them £76,000 a year'.
The RMT trade union is allegedly urging members to take action if Transport for London (TfL) does not offer them a pay rise of 4.5 per cent.
If accepted, salaries for drivers would raise to £76,127, more than twice the average annual salary.
Currently, most tube drivers make around £72,000 a year, which is already close to double the average salary of £37,500, according to the Office for National Statistics.
TfL has reportedly offered Tube drivers a 2.8 per cent pay rise.
In a letter seen by The Telegraph, the union has called for a pay rise that 'protects members from the real cost of living '.
Keith Prince, the London Assembly transport spokesman said: 'It's never enough - Khan and the Labour government bunged billions at union barons without any strings attached, and for nothing.
'Now drivers are looking for a salary more than double what the average Brit earns.'
Last year Sir Sadiq Khan warded off the threat of strikes by promising train drivers a four-day working week and a 4.6 per cent pay rise.
Workers would do a regular 34-hour week across four days, including a 30-minute paid break, instead of 38.5 hours.
Drivers would only work a fifth day of the week once every three months, to account for some of the time being trimmed. However, this work would be training rather than operating trains.
The ASLEF union accepted the new terms in a vote, but the RMT union is still yet to agree.
Aslef announced in April that 70 per cent of members had voted to endorse the new terms in a ballot, with 80 per cent turnout.
Finn Brennan, Aslef's full-time organiser on London Underground, said: 'Despite a campaign of disinformation and distortion by those who want to prevent drivers having improved working conditions and a better work-life balance, our members have voted in favour of the proposal by 70 per cent on an 80 per cent turnout in an independently audited referendum.
'As a majority of members have voted in favour of the proposal, we will now be writing to the company to inform them of the result and to arrange a meeting to start detailed discussions on implementation.'
Currently drivers take unpaid breaks within their hours, and 'bank' one hour a week that is given back as time in lieu later.
Supporters of the new arrangement say it is hard for TfL to dictate how long unpaid breaks should last.
A TfL spokesperson said: 'We look forward to reaching a fair and affordable agreement for our colleagues.'
The RMT union has been contacted for comment.

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