TfL workers received inflation-busting pay rises totalling £27m last year

Tube workers and bus drivers saw their salaries rise by well above inflation last year, figures show (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Transport for London workers received inflation-busting pay rises of 3.2%, on average, last year.

While the majority of public sector employees such as teachers, nurses and firefighters made do with just 1% increases, the 28,000 or so TfL workers enjoyed substantial rises – often in excess of £1,000 on their salary.

Figures released by Conservative London Assembly member Gareth Bacon showed the pay rises for the army of London Underground workers, bus drivers, as well as managers, lawyers, engineers and back office staff cost the public purse £27.1 million.

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He pointed out that had TfL workers seen their rises capped like other public sector workers that combined pay award would have come in at £8.5 million.

“It is unfair that TfL should get away with handing staff an inflation-busting pay rise,” he told the Evening Standard.

“With inflated wage increases on top of its gold-plated pensions, the unions at TfL are pick-pocketing the taxpayer.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said his predecessor, Boris Johnson, approved the pay deal for TfL staff (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The latest official rate of inflation stands at 2.9%. Bacon’s figures show a Tube station supervisor on £55,848 would have received a £1,787 raise in 2017, against the average nurse on £31,000, who would have received around £215, according to latest figures.

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Similarly, a Tube driver received £52,972 in 2017 – an increase of £1,643, against a qualified teacher who would have earned £35,451 in 2017 – an increase of £351.

However, a spokesman for Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan scoffed at Bacon’s claims of outrage, insisting the current four-year pay deal was agreed by the previous Tory administration at City Hall under Boris Johnson.

And, Mick Cash, leader of the powerful RMT union, said the Tories should be thanking TfL workers for helping to keep Londoners safe.

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“London’s transport workers are in the front line ‎when it comes to dealing with safety and security on services across the capital,” he said.

“They were first responders after Parson’s Green and other terrorist incidents and are delivering round the clock for Londoners.”