Tube strike suspended

By Simon Hayes on August 19, 2008 6:08 PM |

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The proposed strike on three London Underground lines has been suspended after union members were offered an improved pay deal.

The RMT have agreed a deal "in principle" with maintenance consortium Tube Lines which will suspend the 72-hour stoppage scheduled to start at noon tomorrow.

The strike would have affected the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Northern lines.

Details of the offer have not been revealed. The RMT will put it to a members' ballot with a recommendation to accept it.

The ballot results should be known in around two weeks.

Tube Lines' chief executive Terry Morgan said: "This is a good deal for Tube Lines. We are pleased that, following constructive discussions with the RMT today, we have been able to agree in principle a two-year deal that will satisfy all parties."

RMT members rejected a pay offer of 4.95 per cent made by Tube Lines last week, claiming they were entitled to equal pay and conditions as workers at the other maintenance group Metronet.

A ballot saw 280 RMT members at Tube Lines vote for industrial action this week and in early September.

Both strikes are now suspended but the threat of industrial action will be revived if the deal is rejected.