London Underground has denied reports that it will pay non-union members an increase in salary that will not be made available to union members.
On Monday, Unite the union announced it was seeking legal advice over the Tube operator’s decision to pay only non-union members a salary increase.
But a London Underground spokesman said Unite’s claims were “wholly incorrect”. He told Personnel Today: “We are not paying non-union members an increase in salary.”
He added that London Underground had been seeking to negotiate an agreement with all of its trade unions for almost a year.
In June, London Underground announced a pay offer of a 1.5% rise this year, and RPI plus 0.5% in 2010.
The spokesman said: “This offer was made in June. One union, TSSA, has voted to accept the offer and so we have looked into whether those staff and those not seeking representation by a union could be paid the increase before Christmas. However, it has not been possible to come to an arrangement to do so.”
Earlier this month, RMT union announced plans to ballot its staff on possible strikes about the pay issue.
Transport secretary Andrew Adonis told Personnel Today it was crucial both unions and employers resolved the dispute quickly, to avert industrial action.
“Obviously I don’t want to see disruption to passengers; it’s very important that unions and management get together to minimise disruption,” he said.
“But this falls under Transport for London, and is ultimately the mayor’s responsibility. Boris [Johnson] is seeking to minimise disruption on the Tube and I’m completely behind him on that.”
