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More than 18,000 Tube staff have received an inflation-busting 3.85 per cent pay rise costing nearly £33 million — with unions set to demand even more next year.

The rise, which comes as commuters face strikes in the run-up to Christmas, was labelled a “slap in the face” to police and other public sector workers who received a two per cent increase.

It means a near £4,000 extra for the highest paid Tube managers already earning £100,000. A train driver will get £2,000 more, taking their annual salary to £53,791, and pay for a senior instructor/driver is up £2,501 to £67,451.

Figures obtained after a Freedom of Information request by Conservatives at City Hall show the pay award, given in April and July, comes as the transport budget nears a £1 billion deficit.

The current four-year deal comes to an end in March and the Tube’s unions are gearing up to lodge demands for “substantial” increases.

The new figures show that awarding Underground staff a rise in line with local government workers would have cost Transport for London, the Tube’s parent body, nearly £16 million less.

A two per cent increase would have cost £17,068,650; the 3.85 per cent increase has cost £32,857,168.

Tory Keith Prince, Greater London Authority spokesman for transport, said: “After the cancellation of major transport infrastructure projects and a series of Underground strikes, Londoners will be shocked to learn that the Mayor has wasted millions on a massive pay rise for Tube staff.

Tube Strike - In Pictures 15 show all Tube Strike - In Pictures 1/15 Bus queues Jeremy Selwyn 2/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 3/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 4/15 Platforms at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 5/15 Passengers study departure board at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 7/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 8/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 9/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 10/15 Passengers on crowded buses in Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 11/15 Passengers waiting for buses in Uxbridge Road Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 12/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 13/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 14/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 15/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 1/15 Bus queues Jeremy Selwyn 2/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 3/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 4/15 Platforms at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 5/15 Passengers study departure board at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 7/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 8/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 9/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 10/15 Passengers on crowded buses in Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 11/15 Passengers waiting for buses in Uxbridge Road Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 12/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 13/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 14/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 15/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati

“This will come as a slap in the face for the millions of public sector workers whose wages are not rising at the same rate. Why should Tube staff receive a bigger pay rise than police officers?” He added: “Giving Tube staff a two per cent pay rise in line with the rest of the public sector would have saved nearly £16 million; that’s money which could have been spent on upgrading our Tube network.

“The Mayor should focus on the needs of Londoners rather than the demands of his union paymasters.”

TfL cancelled major road improvements earlier this year after the Mayor’s fares freeze created a £640 million “black hole” in its accounts.

Financial pressure on the transport body has increased sharply since the axing of £700 million-a-year government grant. Former mayor Boris Johnson agreed that TfL could stand on its own feet financially.

Mr Khan’s spokesperson said: “The Tories are criticising themselves, because the pay deal was agreed with the unions by the previous Conservative mayor. This is the final year of a four-year pay deal agreed under Boris Johnson. The deal was for whichever is the greater of RPI or one per cent.”