Why are Tube drivers earning £50k a year asking for a pay rise?

Plans for all-night Tubes hangs in the balance as Tube drivers are calling for a four-day week and a salary hike.

Under the current plans, the Piccadilly, Victoria, Central, Jubilee and Northern lines are to begin all-night services on Friday and Saturday nights starting September this year.

Tube drivers, who earn £49,673 a year, have already rejected an offer of £500 and “quality time off” after working nights at weekends.

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s district secretary for the London region, said; “A four-day week is one of our claims – we want parity with other train operators, including London Overground, which already have four day weeks.

“LU announced it was planning to run night services without first having reached agreement with the unions; there have been no agreements on rosters, staffing, pay or anything.

“We are having talks now which should have taken place a year ago. We are way behind where we should be”

Nick Brown, LU chief operating officer, said: “We have proposed a two year deal of 0.5% in the first year and inflation (RPI) in the second year.

“For the introduction of night Tube services in September this year we have also proposed a £500 non-consolidated payment for LU operation staff.

“This is dependent on successful organisational readiness ahead of the new night Tube services and a sustained period of successful operation once implemented.”