Latest news with #LondonUnderground
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Tube drivers threaten to strike if £76,000 pay demand refused
London Underground drivers are threatening to go on strike if bosses refuse to pay them £76,000 a year. Shop stewards from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are urging members to strike if Transport for London (TfL) does not hand them a 4.5 per cent pay rise. If granted, the inflation-busting increase would see Tube drivers' salaries reach £76,127 – more than twice the current average annual salary, which is just under £37,500 a year, according to Office for National Statistics data. Twice this sum would be £75,000 – itself not much more than Tube drivers' current pay of £72,849, which they receive for a 35-hour working week. London Underground drivers are already comfortably inside the top 10 per cent of all salaried employees in Britain. The Telegraph understands that TfL has offered Tube drivers a 2.8 per cent pay increase. But a union newsletter seen by The Telegraph said: 'We demand a pay rise that protects us from the real cost of living. As always, RMT bases our pay negotiations on the Retail Price Index – RPI.' Earning more than about £64,000 a year puts a person ahead of 90 per cent of other salary-earners, as opposed to those on hourly wages, according to the ONS. Keith Prince, the London Assembly Conservatives' 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. Perhaps those in the public sector would do well to remember that when people in the private sector want a pay rise, it's usually linked to performance rather than lack thereof.' Last year, Tube drivers' salaries broke £70,000 for the first time after Sir Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor and TfL chairman, bought off threats of strikes by promising drivers a four-day working week and a 4.6 per cent pay rise. In return for an extra day off, drivers will be asked to work the same 35 hours a week they do at present – while retaining their salaries and generous travel perks. Sir Sadiq has not been shy of giving money to the Tube unions. For 2023's annual pay increase, he handed them a 5 per cent pay rise, prompting accusations that the Mayor had found a 'magic money tree'. The RMT union de-affiliated from the Labour Party in 2004, but has consistently backed the party regardless. In the run-up to last year's general election the union issued a statement saying: 'We are not affiliated to any political party and will back Labour and socialist candidates.' Addressing the most recent strike threat, an RMT spokesman said: 'Most workers we represent across London Underground earn modest salaries and work around the clock to keep London moving. We are seeking an improved offer from the employer.' A TfL spokesman said: 'Pay discussions have begun with all of our recognised trade unions on London Underground. We look forward to reaching a fair and affordable agreement for our colleagues. 'We would urge RMT to engage with us in our established processes to reach an agreement that would benefit our colleagues, their members and London as a whole.' A two-year strike campaign by main line train drivers came to an end last year when the Labour Government handed them a 15 per cent pay rise.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
TfL activates hot weather Tube plan during heatwave
Transport for London (TfL) has said it has a "comprehensive" hot weather plan in place during the current heatwave. Last year, the Victoria line was named the hottest on the London Underground, with an average temperature above 30C between June and October, followed closely by the Central and Bakerloo is urging passengers to carry water and to "look out for each other while travelling". Train drivers' union Aslef said TfL had removed chilled water and "spending your working shift in a small metal box deep underground is rarely a pleasant experience" while the RMT called on TfL to "accelerate long-overdue efforts to introduce effective cooling". Industrial fans TfL said 40% of trains across the network have air conditioning, including the Circle, Hammersmith & City, District and Metropolitan lines, which have the coolest temperatures (19.3C) on Overground and Elizabeth line trains are also the prolonged 2022 heatwave, TfL reported a drop in passenger numbers who were advised to travel only if older lines, TfL says it has introduced "a range of station cooling systems including industrial-sized fans and chiller units to pump in cold air". Finn Brennan, Aslef's London Underground organiser, said heat affects Tube train drivers in different ways. He said: "Although cabs have air cooling units, these are very variable in quality."The job requires long hours of concentration, which is difficult to achieve when hot nights make it hard to get any sleep before a shift that can start as early as 04.45 BST."Hot weather also leads to more delays, through the impact on track and on passengers who have been taken ill."As part of TfL's cost-cutting programme, they removed the supply of chilled water for staff across the network but while TfL staff in head office buildings still have access to cool water and the opportunity to work remotely, Tube train drivers have no such luxury. "We still turn up and do the job of keeping London moving, whatever the weather." RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said London Underground staff do "vital, safety-critical work", often in deep-level tunnels where the temperature regularly exceeds added: "The TUC has long called for a legally enforceable maximum workplace temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work."Underground conditions can frequently exceed those temperatures and that is not acceptable or safe."The union wants TfL to "take this key health and safety matter seriously" by providing access to water, improving ventilation, and accelerating "long-overdue" efforts to introduce effective cooling."That includes upgrading air circulation systems, expanding use of tunnel ventilation shafts, and rolling out proven solutions like cooling panels, chiller units, and modern air-conditioned rolling stock." Carl Eddleston, TfL's director of streets and network operations, said with continuous hot weather forecast over the coming days, customers should carry water with them when they travel."
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
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.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
‘Man with gun' arrested at London Underground station
A 61-year-old man was arrested at a London Underground station after reportedly carrying a gun. British Transport Police officers swarmed Elm Park station on Thursday morning after receiving reports of a man 'in possession of a firearm' in east London. The force was called as rush hour began at 7am, with commuters starting to board the Tube at the District Line station. The station was closed for several hours as a result, with Transport for London confirming it had only reopened by 10.45am. A British Transport Police spokesman said: 'A 61-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and taken into custody. 'Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016, or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 109 of June 19.'
Metro
2 days ago
- Climate
- Metro
The ultimate guide for travelling on the Tube in a heatwave
Summer has finally hit the UK, with hot weather that will see the mercury climb as high as 30°C. It's so hot, in fact, that the previous record of 40°C, in July 2022, could be under threat. As much as we love a bit of heat and sunshine, it makes for some pretty sticky conditions when it comes to the morning and evening commute – with temperatures soaring on the Tube as well as above ground. To avoid a sweltering journey that sees you arrive at your destination drenched in sweat, you might want to opt for a route that will keep you as cool as possible. But which Tube lines have air conditioning? And which other train and transport services offer it? Only a handful of London Underground lines currently have air conditioning, and they are as follows: Circle Hammersmith & City District Metropolitan Elizabeth The good news is that the Piccadilly Line set to join the ranks of those lines with air con as its new trains come into service this year. The Bakerloo Line, Waterloo and City Line, and Central Line will also be getting air conditioned trains in the future but you might have to wait a while – particularly for the Central Line. Speaking on a Twitter post in 2019, Central Line head of fleet Steve Lammin said: 'We've improved ventilation systems on the current fleet. 'New trains are coming in early 2030, under the Deep Tube Upgrade Program which will be delivered with full air cooling systems.' Dates for the new Bakerloo and Waterloo and City Line trains have not been confirmed, and there are no plans for any upgrades to the Jubilee, Northern or Victoria Lines. Previous reports suggested the Bakerloo Line is the hottest of all during warm weather, but in August 2024 TFL revealed the Victoria Line had the hottest average temperature of 28.2°C – although this rose to 30°C between June and October. This was closely followed by the Central Line, with an average temperature of 26.7°C.. The Central Line is one of the hottest tube lines because of its age and depth beneath the ground. It is one of the oldest Underground routes in London and was opened as The Central Railway in 1900 with early extensions carried out in 1920 and in the 1940s. The line is a deep-level tube which means it is at least 20 metres underground and travels through two small tunnels to reach each station. This compact space and lack of ventilation stops the heat generated from dispersing and therefore keeps it contained. More Trending The old design of the tunnels also makes it difficult to create enough extra ventilation to have much of an effect. If you want to avoid a sweaty journey on the Tube, you can try any of the following transport services running throughout the capital, all of which are air-conditioned: Overground Northern City Thameslink Trams If you really can't avoid a non-air-conditioned route in hot weather, Transport For London offers the following tips on its website to make your journey easier. Carry water with you at all times Don't board a train or bus if you feel unwell If you feel unwell, please get off at the next stop and contact a member of staff at the next station or speak to the bus driver Where possible, consider retiming journeys to less busy times Passengers are also advised only to travel if absolutely necessary when temperatures rocket past the 40°C mark. Switch up your journey: As well as choosing different public transport, you could opt for a 'Boris Bike' in London, or similar cycle sharing scheme in your area. Why not make the most of the sun? Bring a fan: Whether you go analogue or electric, a handheld fan will save your life on a busy commute. Hack your clothes: If you have to wear a suit or something heavy, stick it in your bag before you get into the office. On the journey itself, look for clothes that are made of breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. Stay hydrated: As we've mentioned, it's important to drink plenty of water. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: I love living in London — but it sucks in the summer MORE: Another e-bike brand is set to launch in London this summer MORE: Dad left 'in misery' after ceiling collapses three times in London home
