Pay deal averts Tube strike threat

The threat of a series of strikes on London Underground was ending today after a new pay deal for Tube drivers was accepted by union leaders.

Aslef accepted the new offer and the executive of the Rail Maritime and Transport union was expected to rubber stamp the agreement later.

Unions said LU had met their claim for a 5.7 per cent increase to close the £1,600 pay gap between drivers of passenger and engineering trains.

Mick Rix, general secretary of Aslef, said: I am delighted that LU has addressed the anomaly in drivers' pay without the need for strike action. I hope this will bring in a period of industrial stability on the Tube."

The two unions had called two 48-hour strikes for next week and later in March which would have caused chaos in the capital.