Labour's Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan has vowed to work with unions to end Tube strikes, as he pointed out the number of strikes has doubled in recent years.
New research shows that there have been a total of 35 strikes under Conservative Boris Johnson, compared to 16 under his Labour predecessor Ken Livingstone.
In his 2008 manifesto Boris Johnson said: "I will look to reduce the disruption caused by strikes on the Tube by negotiating a no-strike deal, in good faith, with the Tube unions.
“In return for agreeing not to strike, the unions will get the security provided by having the pay negotiations conducted by an independent arbiter, whose final decision will be binding on both parties."
Only 2012 and 2013 saw a whole year without Tube strikes, while 2010 saw a total of nine in one year.
Sadiq Khan said: "There have now been more than twice as many strikes under Boris Johnson than in the previous eight years.
"It proves once and for all that the Tory strategy of refusing to negotiate or even meet with the unions makes strikes more likely not less.
"Londoners need both sides to talk and resolve their differences. As mayor I will make this happen and stop strikes on the Underground."
'Ken Livingstone bowed to the unions, Sadiq would do the same'
However, responding to Sadiq Khan's claims about strike action on the London Underground , current Mayor of London Boris told getwestlondon: “It is utterly incredible that Sadiq Khan can't bring himself to condemn a strike that is entirely motivated by the self-interest of union barons who don't give a stuff about Londoners or indeed their own membership.
"There’s massive support amongst Londoners for the Night Tube, a 24 hour service for a modern, aspirant, growing population . Mr Khan and his union backers clearly don’t want it. They are stuck in the past.
“Mr Khan is all over the place. He spends most days pretending to run away from the ASLEF funded Jeremy Corbyn and his Labour Party, whilst simultaneously paying homage to his union backers.
“He needs to condemn this pointless strike now. And if he won't, he needs to explain why he supports a strike called without the backing of union members, a strike called even after TfL guaranteed the preservation of existing work life balance arrangements for staff.
“Ken Livingstone bowed to the unions, Sadiq Khan would do the same."
Tory mayoral candidate, Zac Goldsmith was recently criticised by unions after saying he will ban Tube strikes if elected as mayor.
Boris continued: “Being mayor is about making tough choices - closing ticket offices, modernising our tube network, massively cutting delays, delivering upgrades, automation, and new signalling. Today the tube carries 25% more passengers than it did when I was elected mayor.
“That investment in transport will be put in peril if Sadiq Khan becomes mayor. He is a tool of ASLEF. He emanates from the bowels of the unions.
"In failing to condemn this appalling call for strikes, he proves he isn't capable of making the tough decisions needed as mayor to grow our city's infrastructure as our population continues to boom.”
Unions are currently planning Tube strikes over three days in industrial action over pay conditions and the the controversial Night Tube.
