Tube strike called off at 11th hour

A Tube strike which threatened to grind the London Underground to a halt has been called off. Operator Transport for London made the announcement yesterday afternoon to the relief of thousands of commuters and other passengers. Maintenance workers had voted to

A Tube strike which threatened to grind the London Underground to a halt has been called off.

Operator Transport for London made the announcement yesterday afternoon to the relief of thousands of commuters and other passengers.

Maintenance workers had voted to strike on Wednesday in a row over pay and conditions. Around 1,000 members of RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) union at Tube Lines planned to walk out at noon today for 72 hours and again two weeks later.

If they had gone ahead, dozens of stations would have been affected as the Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines were to be closed.

The stoppage was called off after an improved pay offer was made, the RMT said.

Tube Lines offered workers a pay deal worth 4.99 per cent over two years, compared with the one-year pay increase of 4.8 per cent originally offered, plus contributions towards employees' travel costs.

The offer will now go to a members' ballot which will decide whether the RMT's planned second strike on September 3 will go ahead.