Keir Starmer's government urges Sadiq Khan to hike Tube fares

by · Mail Online

Sir Keir Starmer's government is set to pile further misery on Londoners next year after urging Sadiq Khan to hike Tube and rail fares by at least 4.6 per cent. 

The news comes on the day that members of the RMT and Aslef unions begin major walkouts over pay causing Londoners more transport hell. 

In January this year, Khan froze Transport for London (TfL) fares until March next year despite rail fares across the country going up by 4.9 per cent nationally. 

However Labour's transport minister Louise Haigh has referenced the expected fares hire in the £485m allocated for TfL in the budget. 

She told Mr Khan that he must ensure 'TfL fares rise in line with national rail fares this year.'

Sadiq Khan has been ordered to hike Tube and rail fares by at least 4.6 per cent
Labour's transport minister Louise Haigh has made made the fares hike a key condition of the £485m allocated for TfL in the budget

Under current pricing a single fare from TfL zone four to zone one costs the commuter £4.40 however from next year this could rise to £4.60.

In a letter to the Mayor, Ms Haigh wrote: HMG [His Majesty’s Government] expects you to consider the full range of revenue raising powers at your disposal as part of TfL’s business planning and to confirm to HMG your plans to ensure TfL continues to improve its financial sustainability in the medium term. 

'You should note that HMG’s assessment of TfL funding needs in Phase 2 of the Spending Review will be conducted against a baseline scenario where TfL rail fares rise in line with national rail fares this year.' 

For the next twelve days, commuters who regularly use London's  tube network will have to plan their journey ahead of time as strikes are set to heavily impact the capital's transport systems. 

Workers will walk out between November 1 and November 12 in a dispute over pay despite TfL bosses putting forward what they say is a 'fair' deal that will see wages rise an average of 4.6 per cent.

Trade union Aslef - representing thousands of Tube drivers, who are paid at least £63,000 a year - has ordered 24-hour walkouts on November 7 and November 12.

The RMT union has also said swathes of maintenance and emergency staff will go on strike between November 1 and November 8 amidst a 'wholly inadequate' pay offer.

Planned strikes will likely shut down the entire Tube network for at least two days - with other action likely to limit the number of services that can run and could lead to stations being closed at short notice. 

Crunch talks are understood to be continuing between shop stewards and TfL management in a bid to see off the strikes. 

Tube drivers are to go on strike in Novemeber, Aslef has said, after discussions around pay broke down. The RMT union says its members will also strike 
The strikes will take place on two days in November (pictured: Aslef and RMT workers striking outside an Underground station in March last year)
The last major Tube drivers' strike in March 2023 completely shut down the London Underground network and affected the adjacent DLR and Elizabeth Line services
Andy Lord, TfL commissioner (left, pictured with Sadiq Khan), said the offer made to the trade unions was 'fair'
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the pay offer made by London Underground 'falls short of what our members deserve'

Aslef had called off strikes in April following talks over driver welfare, training and working conditions - but the union says it is unhappy with the pay deal on offer.

It claims TfL is unwilling to equalise working conditions with drivers on the Overground or Elizabeth Line, which are run by external companies. 

Who is going on strike and when? 

Aslef's industrial action on the London Underground involves several grades of Transport for London staff: 

  • Train operators and instructor operators will not book on for duty between 12.01am and 11.59pm on November 7 and 12.
  • Management grades will not book on for duty between 12.01am and 11.59pm on November 7 and 12. There is an overtime ban in place from 12.01am on November 3 to 11.59pm on November 16.
  • Engineering drivers will not book on from 6pm on November 1 to 5.59pm on November 2. There is an overtime ban in place from 12.01am on November 1 November to 11.59pm on November 8.

The RMT has detailed the following strikes for its members:

  • Engineering and maintenance staff will strike from 6pm on November 1 to 5pm on November 2, with no overtime until November 8.
  • Track controllers and control staff will strike from 6.59pm on November 3 until 6.59pm on November 4.
  • Emergency Response Unit (ERU) staff will strike from 12.01am to 11.59pm on November 4.
  • Fleet, Engineering, Stations, and Trains staff (excluding maintenance and emergency staff) 12.01am until 11.59pm on November 5.
  • Signallers and Service Controllers will strike from 12.01am until 11.59pm on November 6, with further strikes on November 7 and 8.

Finn Brennan, Aslef organiser on the London Underground (LU), said: 'We don't want to go on strike. We don't want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don't want to lose a day's pay.

'But we have been forced into this position because LU management won't sit down properly and negotiate with us.'

Industrial action extends in part to other Aslef-affiliated members of Underground staff within TfL. 

Management staff will strike on November 7 and November 12, and an overtime ban will be in place from November 3 until November 16.

Engineering drivers will also walk out for 24 hours from the evening of Friday November 1 for 24 hours into Saturday November 2, with an overtime ban in place between November 1 and November 8. 

The average Tube driver salary as of November last year was £63,901, according to a freedom of information response issued by TfL, though thousands are paid in excess of £70,000.

TfL said on average the pay rise offer for TfL workers was 4.6 per cent - but Mr Brennan said the offer for Tube drivers was lower at 3.8 per cent, and did not include paid meal breaks enjoyed by drivers on the Elizabeth Line and Overground.

It is understood that TfL also offered a £450 one-off payment that would give the drivers a total 4.5 per cent pay rise. 

The union rep added: 'ASLEF members have been extremely patient as talks have dragged on – with no real progress – for months on end. 

'Sadly, it is clear, once again, that Underground management will only get serious about reaching a settlement if there is the prospect of strike action.'

The RMT, meanwhile, says its own members are striking because the pay offer 'falls short' of what it says members deserve and would create divisions between staff. 

Workers including maintenance staff, track controllers and control room members will strike on various dates between November 1 and November 8.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: 'No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management decide which of our members gets a pay rise and those who do not.

'We have repeatedly urged London Underground to offer a deal that ensures all staff are covered by collective bargaining, yet management remains fixated on imposing pay structures without our agreement.

'Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action to defend their terms and conditions.

'We remain open to negotiations, but London Underground must come back to the table with a comprehensive, consolidated offer that respects the rights of all our members. Until then, our industrial action will continue as planned.'