Jobs pledge set to halt next week's Tube strike

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The RMT had ordered the 48-hour stoppage on 28 April after a row over 2,500 staff employed by maintenance giant Metronet, which went bust last year with debts of £2 billion.

Union chiefs wanted assurances that staff would not be transferred to other employers, could join the Transport for London pension scheme and would receive the same benefits as its other employees.

RMT had been given verbal assurances by the Mayor and London Underground but wanted them in writing.

A senior Tube source said: "There may have been some concern that Ken might lose the election and that any verbal agreement would be null and void.

"Even by the RMT's standards of announcing a strike one minute and then calling it off the next this one takes the biscuit."

Boris Johnson accused Ken Livingstone of "bribing" Tube staff by handing out annual season tickets worth almost £1,800 for themselves and their partners. He said: "Did Mr Livingstone order his transport adviser to stop the strikes no matter what the cost?"

A Tube spokesman said it had given "written assurances" backing up verbal agreements given by the Mayor.

RMT leader Bob Crow confirmed the union now had assurances in writing, but added: "It is difficult to understand why these assurances could not have been given without us having to name strike dates."