London Tube strikes called off as hospitality leaders call for swift resolution
In a statement, Aslef confirmed that the two 24-hour walkouts planned for Thursday, 7 November, and Tuesday, 12 November, will no longer go ahead after it received a 'significantly improved' pay offer by London Underground management.
It added that it would discuss that offer with union members on Thursday.
The RMT union had also called on different groups of staff including controllers, emergency responders and signallers to take action on different days between 1 November and 8 November, however, those strikes were subsequently suspended too.
News that the strikes have been called off come after leaders of some of the UK’s biggest hospitality groups signed a joint letter this week calling for a swift resolution to the ongoing Tube strikes.
Trade body UKHospitality co-ordinated the letter to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, and Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan, which urges against further Tube strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
Among the signatories are the leaders of Côte Brasserie, Drake & Morgan, ETM Group, Hippodrome Casino, Tossed, and Wasabi.
The letter claims that a strike at any time of year means hospitality businesses can lose 70% of that day’s income.
“In this crucial period, though, the effect is even worse, and a strike cancelled at the last moment will probably be too late to stop the negative impact,” it says.
UKHospitality has previously estimated that the hospitality sector has suffered £3.5bn in lost sales as a result of nationwide disruption caused by Tube and train strikes over the past two years.
“Bookings for large parties are already cancelled, or never made at all,” the letter continues.
“Coverage in global media will mean some potential visitors to our city have decided not to risk a visit.
“Some hospitality businesses make up to 40% of their annual takings in the two months before Christmas. Losing income at this time of year can and does put the future of these businesses at risk, and with it, people’s jobs.
“We ask only that you swiftly conclude the negotiations before the impact on our businesses and our city becomes unacceptably high, threatening the livelihoods of those working in it.”
