RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) union has called on the London Mayor and TfL (Transport for London) to enter talks to avoid strike action scheduled for later this week.

The union for Tube workers wants the unconditional talks hosted by the conciliation service ACAS, to prevent having members strike from 5 January to 11 January.

RMT says it had been invited to talks with TfL earlier this week after London Underground workers backed rolling strike action by over 90 per cent against a below inflation pay offer.

The union also wants to see full staff travel facilities for all tube workers restored to prevent to the creation of a two-tier workforce.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch says Tube workers were not going to accept poor offers and the continual undermining of conditions.

He said: "The refusal of TfL to restore staff travel facilities and create a two-tier workforce is also unacceptable.

"Our members have made it clear that they are prepared to take action and we urge TfL to enter into meaningful conciliatory talks to avert disruption in the capital."

TfL says it is in talks with the union to avoid the planned strike action and that in November 2023, it made a full and final offer to increase the base pay for all London Underground workers by five per cent, which was accepted by members of the ASLEF (The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) union.

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Glynn Barton, TfL's Chief Operating Officer, said: "We are disappointed that RMT is planning strike action in response to our offer of a five per cent pay increase.

"We have been clear throughout our productive discussions with our trade unions that this offer is the most we can afford while ensuring that we can operate safely, reliably and sustainably.

"We encourage the RMT to engage with us to avoid disruption for Londoners. We would like to advise anyone travelling during the strike days to check before they travel."

RMT will be holding strikes on the following dates:

• Engineering train drivers will start action on 5/6 January.
• RMT members in LUL's network control functions take action 7/8 January.
• Members in the tubes signalling and service control functions take action 9 and 11 January.
• All other RMT members, including engineering, Fleet maintenance, stations and train operators will strike on January 8 and 10.