Boris Johnson rejects plea to meet with union leader over Night Tube

The 24-hour underground service was originally due to start in September but ongoing talks with unions have delayed it, with no firm start date in sight.

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) leader Manuel Cortes wrote to the London mayor with an offer to meet him personally along with the other unions to get the service going.

"We are frustrated; frustrated that you have constantly put the brakes on a deal that we can all agree on, a deal that puts safety and work-life balance first, and instead, you seem to have allowed talks to grind to a halt," the letter dated 23 October said.

"The night tube should happen and given that we all want it to happen it should be possible to make it happen. However, this requires that you put your Conservative party leadership ambitions on hold for a short time and give all of your efforts to the most immediate job in hand, the job you were elected to do - delivering for Londoners."

He said because of a failure to negotiate in good faith, "the Night Tube isn’t going to happen”.

However a spokesperson for the mayor said the offer had been rejected, claiming Cortes’ move is another attempt at “needless headline grabbing”.

“The unions have failed to put what is a very fair and sensible offer to their members,” the statement said.

“The Mayor has made clear negotiations are a matter for London Underground management. To do anything else risks undermining that process.

“Given the unions know that, it's clear to the Mayor that they are intent on needless headline grabbing rather than doing what they should be doing, and putting the deal to their members."

Cortes said he wrote to the mayor in good faith and wants Johnson to understand what he described as “stalling tactics” from London Underground.

"The mayor's official spokesperson prefers to sling insults our way, but our shoulders are broad.”

He said that the members he represents would be proud to play a significant part in delivering the service.

"My personal, face-to-face offer to Boris stands. Meet me, and my fellow rail union leaders, face-to-face and let's get the Night Tube back on track.”

It comes just under a week after Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members working on the Piccadilly Live voted in favour of strike action.

The union accused Transport for London of developing "a campaign of bullying, harassment and intimidation", and 70% of the union’s 400 train operators on the line voted for strike action.

The union hasn’t decided when to stage the strike yet, with discussions with Transport for London ongoing.