Tube strikes may be cancelled as TFL and unions negotiate

Aslef and RMT unions meet with TFL ahead of planned strike on 26-27 January

A closed station during a strike in August 2015 (NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images)

Planned Tube strikes could be called off if Transport for London reaches an agreement with unions in ongoing negotiations.

Throughout next week, TFL will be meeting with the transport unions Aslef and RMT, in an attempt to settle disputes over pay and the extension of London Tube services throughout the night.

If negotiations fail, there are three planned strikes that could potentially go ahead. The first will begin at 9.15pm on Tuesday 26 January and run for 24 hours until 9.15pm on Wednesday 27 January. Two further 24-hour strikes are planned from 9.15pm on Monday 15 February and from 9.15pm on Wednesday 17 February.

The two sides met today at ACAS, a government body set up to prevent and resolve employment disputes and facilitate discussion between bosses and employees.

Transport bosses and union representatives both said that positive progress had been made.

Aslef (The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) is a union which represents train drivers across the UK, while RMT (the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) is a larger union which represents all workers in the transport sector.

While endorsing the idea of a night Tube in principle, the unions feel that the execution of the plan has been shoddy, and left them with no assurances that they will not be force to work long hours or be left out of pocket.

London Underground has claimed that it will hire part-time drivers so that none of its current employees have to work overtime to staff the night Tube, and also offered a 4-year-pay deal.

London Underground representatives have also previously claimed that they have offered everything they can to the unions, though the initiation of the latest round of negotiations shows that both sides feel there is still some wiggle-room left.

Finn Brennan, an Aslef spokesperson with responsibility for organising their London Underground-employed members, said: "We have had useful talks at Acas today and agreed a programme of meetings for next week. Aslef has engaged in these talks in a positive spirit and will continue to seek progress."

Mick Cash, the General Secretary of the RMT, added: "RMT is pressing for a fair, negotiated settlement to the range of issues at the core of the current disputes."