London Underground staff accept improved pay offer

London Underground pay offer
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Workers employed on the London Underground by Transport for London have accepted an improved pay offer following a long-running dispute over wages.

The employees, who are members of trade union Unite, overwhelmingly accepted the increase, and will see their pay for the 2023 financial year rise by between 5.8% and 11%, with the lowest- paid grades receiving the largest increases.

The funding, which has been provided by the Mayor of London, has allowed further payments to all staff and enabled those on lower pay to see a greater percentage increase.

Nick Dent, director of customer operations for London Underground, said: “We are pleased that, after positive and constructive discussions, our unions have accepted our pay offer. Our [employees] work hard every day to keep London moving, and this agreement is good news for London.”

Unite stated that it is involved in several disputes on behalf of workers employed by Transport for London, who were previously offered a 4.4% pay rise. It said it aims to address, tackle and eventually eradicate the pay disparity between London Underground staff and surface operatives.

Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “This was an important pay deal which was secured by workers standing firm and ensuring an improved offer was made. Unite always prioritises the job, pay and conditions of its members, and is why the union will always give its full support to other workers on London’s transport network who fully deserve a fair pay increase.”

Steve O’Donnell, regional secretary for Unite London and Eastern, added: “This pay deal was an important step forward, but it is far from the end of the road. Unite will ensure that Transport for London and the Mayor’s office make decent pay offers for all public sector transport workers in London.”