Tube strikes can be averted, says optimistic Sadiq Khan

By Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

Sadiq Khan has said he is “confident” that Tube strikes planned by unions to take place in the first half of November will be called off.

The mayor said Transport for London (TfL) was engaged in talks with both the RMT and Aslef unions, and that he was “hopeful” that their demands could be negotiated “amicably”.

Aslef, the drivers’ union, has called two 24-hour strikes, on November 7 and 12, while the RMT has told its members – who include drivers, signallers and station staff – to walk out on different days between November 1 and 8.

Mr Khan said: “I don’t want strikes. The trade unions don’t want to strike. TfL doesn’t want strikes. Londoners don’t want strikes.

“Earlier on this year, one of the trade unions was threatening a week’s worth of strikes – we resolved those amicably.

“In the spring, there were threats of strike action and we resolved those amicably. I’m hopeful and confident we’ll resolve these as well.”

Pictured top: Sadiq Khan (Picture: LDRS)