London Underground Drivers to See Pay Rise to Nearly £80,000 by 2027 After Strike Action

The RMT union has agreed to a three-year pay deal for London Underground workers, bringing an end to the dispute that caused significant travel disruption in September.

The agreement will see drivers’ salaries rise to nearly £80,000 by 2027.

The deal includes an initial 3.4% increase, backdated to April, and links future pay rises to RPI inflation—higher than the CPI measure usually used for index-linked salaries. It also guarantees minimum pay increases if inflation drops, making the total package worth at least 9.2% over three years.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the settlement “demonstrates the effectiveness of strike action and strong negotiation by our members.” He highlighted that the agreement avoids tying pay to “flawed productivity measures or inflation calculations that exclude housing costs,” and suggested that similar arrangements should be pursued across the transport sector.

While the RMT had requested a reduction in the working week to as low as 32 hours, Transport for London (TfL) rejected this proposal as impractical and unaffordable. The final deal does not include any changes to working hours.

The strikes in September, which lasted four days, disrupted London Underground services, forcing many commuters to walk, cycle, or switch to buses and overground trains.

TfL welcomed the settlement, with a spokesperson stating: “We welcome the RMT’s decision to accept our pay offer. This multi-year deal is fair, affordable, and provides certainty over pay for our colleagues. We are engaging with all unions and look forward to their responses.”

The current base salary for tube drivers is £71,170, while station staff earn between £30,000 and £45,000.