Sir Sadiq Khan has caved under pressure from trade unions, putting forward a pay rise for tube drivers after strikes battered London this week.
Transport for London (TfL) and the London Mayor are set to meet on Monday, where a “no conditions” pay offer will be put on the table to Tube trade unions.
Transport workers in the capital demanded a 3.4 per cent increase in their basic wages, which would take their average wage to £38,702.
The average tube worker’s salary is already 71 per cent higher than the overall national average, and that number is set to increase as Sir Sadiq yields to demands.
“We believe that this offer makes the best use of the budget we have available and will maximise the level of pay increase we can provide for our people,” the agenda read.
These types of unconditional pay hikes are often known as “no strings” by unions to their members.
The move from Mr Khan has been compared to “handing out freebies” by London Conservatives.
Spokesman for the Tories at City Hall, Keith Prince, said Labour must learn that such moves with no conditions are not a form of negotiation.
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Mr Khan has been compared to ‘handing out freebies’
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PAMr Prince said: “This inflation-busting pay rise does nothing to prevent future strikes, nothing to we have seen this week, and nothing to reassure Londoners that TfL and the Mayor of London have their interests at heart.”
Tens of thousands of commuters were forced to walk, cycle, or take a taxi during the week, with bike collisions increasing by a third within the first few days, according to the London Ambulance Service.
Footfall plummeted in areas of the capital, with businesses in Canary Wharf and Westminster down by 31 per cent compared to the week before.
Union members said their biggest discontent is the length of their working week rather than wages.
However, striking tube drivers have insisted they receive two-for-one entry to Legoland, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures as part of their bonus.
Mr Prince stated: “The RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) has brought the capital to its knees to demand discounted theme park tickets and an extra day off a week.
“It’s a joke – Londoners work hard for the things they want, and if the RMT thinks they’re going to hold the city to ransom for a go on the rollercoasters, then they’ll find out very quickly how little Londoners support them to do so.
“This crisis cannot go on – where is the Mayor, and where is his leadership at this crucial time for our city?”
London was brought to a standstill due to the tube strikes
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GETTYThe Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo & City lines were all suspended during the week.
Commuters were seen flocking to the Elizabeth Line, which was one of the few tubes operating normally.
Should tube workers get their demands, it will cost a whopping £200million.
GB News has approached TfL for comment.