Tube Union chiefs are meeting with London Underground (LUL) officials today after a late change to a pay deal aimed at stopping tonight's strike action.

Millions of commuters face travel chaos tonight and throughout tomorrow with 7,500 RMT union members walking off the job, in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

Tube workers are being offered 3.5 per cent in the first year of a deal worth 6.75 per cent over two years, and a commitment to reduced working hours.

The first year pay deal was increased by of a per cent yesterday.

However, the RMT has rejected the offer, saying the commitment to reduce hours does not cover the entire Tube workforce, and that there could be job loses.

Mayor Ken Livingstone today revealed he had spoken with RMT General Secretary Bob Crow last night.

Mr Livingstone said he had assured Mr Crow that the new conditions covered all RMT members, and that LUL managing director Tim O'Toole had also spoken with Mr Crow over his concerns last night.

The mayor denied there would be anything like the 800 job losses predicted by the union.

Tube strike travel advice

Despite the small increase in the pay offer yesterday, Mr Livingstone said LU would not improve on the pay deal in the face of strike action.

He said he was hopeful the union would realise this deal was as good as Tube workers could expect.

Mr L also rejected suggestions he should take a more active role in negotiations, after union sources called for him to become person involved.

"It would be great theatre, but bad industrial relations," he said.

The mayor apologised to Londoners for the major disruption expected during the industrial action, and said it was part of a "difficult learning curve" between the union and Tube bosses.

He said he would probably walk to work tomorrow morning, from his Cricklewood house to City Hall, in Southwark.

Transport officials would not suspend the congestion charge or parking restrictions because the priority was to keep roads as clear as possible for buses, the mayor said.

Up to 7million bus journeys could be made tomorrow an increase of about 1 million on a normal week day.