RAIL union RMT has called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to step in and resolve escalating disputes on the London Underground (LU), as Night Tube strike action continues this weekend.

General secretary Mick Lynch wrote to the capital’s Labour mayor today, urging him to act over bitter disputes concerning changes to working patterns on late-night services and threats to jobs that “risk the future” of the Tube. 

As the capital heads for a third weekend of action, Mr Lynch slammed bosses for continuing to refuse RMT’s “reasonable and costed” offer to end the dispute, which the union says will cost less than the lost revenue caused by strike action.

His letter said: “LU managers have got themselves into a difficult position [from] which they are finding it hard to publicly climb down from and it’s for this reason that Londoners will have to endure another round of strike action.

“This is not a sensible way to conduct industrial relations.”

Transport for London claims that the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic means change is urgently needed.

The mayor’s office has been contacted for comment.