London Underground strikes called off after talks breakthrough | London

Planned London Underground strikes that threatened to bring the capital to a halt next week have been called off after talks.

The RMT and Aslef unions have now suspended industrial action that would have stopped the tube entirely for four days and caused widespread disruption from Monday to Saturday.

The strikes, by train drivers and station staff, were planned due to a dispute over changes to working conditions, including staffing reductions and a review of pensions brought as part of Transport for London’s post-Covid financial settlement with the government.

The RMT’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, said there had been “significant progress” in talks held by concilation service Acas, but that it was not the end of the dispute, with negotiations continuing and a strike mandate still in place.

The union said that concessions included longer guarantees on earnings, no pension changes for at least three years and a halt to productivity proposals that it said would have damaged the terms and conditions of RMT members.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the suspension of strikes was “really welcome news for Londoners”, adding: “Despite the onerous funding deal conditions imposed by the government we have managed to avoid industrial action.

“Negotiation is always the best way forward and this shows what we can achieve by working with trade unions.”