New Tfl Tube strike 2015: Aslef union threatens another walkout on 5 August ahead of crunch talks over Night Tube

Londoners could face another day of travel chaos next month after Tube drivers’ union Aslef named a date for a second strike.

 

Aslef has scheduled a 24-hour walkout to start at 9.30pm on 5 August. 

 

Talks with conciliation service Acas will take place today in a bid to avert the action. Union insiders told City PM they are expecting London Underground to lift the pay offer and pledge a cap on the number of so-called “unsocial hours” that Tube staff could be required to work.

 

Drivers are up in arms over the new Night Tube, scheduled to launch in September. Workers claim they are being forced to work more hours, having been made what the unions called a “divisive and unacceptable” offer from transport bosses.

 

 

Steve Griffiths, London Underground’s operations chief, said: “We have made a very fair and reasonable offer on pay and the introduction of the night Tube and we continue to urge the trade unions to put it to their members. We will be at Acas today for further discussions to resolve this issue and trust the trade unions will be too.”

 

It is not clear whether the RMT or TSSA unions would take part in a strike on 5 August. A spokesperson for RMT told City PM that it would be holding executive-level meetings this week to determine its next course of action.

 

The Unite union told the BBC last night that it would also join the planned action. 

 

If it goes ahead, it would be the second strike in a month, following last week's action, which brought London to a standstill.