More Underground pay talks next Monday.

London Underground management have invited all four trade unions to more pay talks next Monday.

It is now over seven months since our pay claim for 2025 was submitted. Despite management saying they wanted a quick settlement this year, there is still no indication of when the process will conclude.

While the level of inflation has risen considerably, staff have still no idea when they will receive the pay rise that was due in April of this year.

It always takes London Underground at least three months from a final agreement to implement a pay rise and pay back money because of the need to recalculate every individual salary and any overtime worked. So even if a final position was reached soon, the amount of time needed for all unions to ratify any agreement, plus the time taken by the company to implement new pay scales, means that we will almost certainly be well into next year by the time members actually receive their pay rise.

By then of course we will have submitted our 2026 pay claim and the process will start again!

Every union has its own decision making process and another union has publicly stated that they are "not looking for more money on top of the 3.4 per cent" that is on offer. This figure is based on the February retail price index (RPI) inflation rate which is traditionally used as the base figure for pay rises on London Underground and on much of the rail industry. Most rail companies have settled at this figure for this year.

Managements insistence on a one year only offer means we are locked in a cycle where members never know when or if, they are going to get the pay rises they need to keep up with the rising costs of their bills. An offer that guaranteed inflation linked pay rises over a longer period and dealt with the conditions elements of our claim would end this uncertainty.

Instead of endless talks that go nowhere, ASLEF want our members to get the pay rise you should have had back in April, certainty for the future, and swift movement on rolling out 4-day week rosters to every line.

At Mondays meeting we will insist that management give a clear statement on what their plans are so we can respond appropriately. We will then update members and arrange a Reps meeting to decide our next steps.

Full reports will be given at your local ASLEF branch meeting.

Finn Brennan

ASLEF District Organiser.