The ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite unions walked out of talks at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, jeopardizing the planned introduction of the weekends-only operation before the end of the year, Transport for London, which overseas London Underground, said in a statement.
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But this was delayed after a dispute over staff pay and conditions.
Finn Brennan, Aslef organiser for LU, said the union had put forward proposals but “LU has rejected them all”.
He added, “The management of London Underground has completely mishandled these negotiations. They have wasted every opportunity for a settlement and seem to have been determined to provoke confrontation rather than resolution”. Copenhagen offers a driverless all-night Metro service from Thursday to Sunday, and Berlin’s U-bahn runs for 24-hours on the weekend.
If/when it does eventually come into service, the Central, Jubilee, Victoria, Piccadilly, and Northern lines will be open 24 hours a day at weekends.
A spokesperson for TfL said the night tube is not only backed by the majority of Londoners but will create 2,000 new permanent jobs and boost the economy by £360 million.
The Night Tube isn’t going to be a thing this year, so prepare for more drunken bus and cab journeys home.
“The Mayor was eager to announce the Night Tube, but was clearly less eager to do the work to ensure he could fulfil his promise to Londoners and deliver to schedule”. Once again Boris Johnson has proven to be all show and no substance’. Talks adjourned today and the parties are reflecting upon their positions. We remain in contact with the parties and our services remain available’.
Mr Johnson, speaking in Japan on his trade mission, said: “We’ve done without a Night Tube for 150 years and I’m sure we can rub along a little bit longer but we are going to have it eventually”.
Sadiq Khan, Labour’s mayoral candidate, called on the Mayor to “pull his finger out and get round the table with the unions to negotiate a solution to this sorry state of affairs”.
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We have asked Transport for London for a response and await a reply.
