Tube strike action planned for next week has been suspended after “significant movement” in talks between Transport for London and the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union.

Workers were due to walk out on Tuesday evening for 48 hours over threats to jobs, working conditions and services.

Tubes across East London were likely to have been affected by the action.

Initially, TfL wanted to axe 953 staff but that figure has now been reduced to 897 and the RMT are hopeful that it will fall further.

The cuts were part of austerity measures which include plans to close ticket offices to save £50 million.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Thanks to both the solidarity and determination of our members, and the hard work of our negotiators in the ACAS talks, RMT has been able to secure significant movement in three key areas which have allowed our executive to suspend both the action scheduled for next week and the on-going overtime ban.

“The substantial improvements we have agreed allow us to move forwards but the Union’s core opposition to the austerity-led cuts on London Underground has not shifted an inch and we remain vigilant to further developments and their impact.”

However, a TfL spokesperson said: “There has been no ‘significant movement’ or ‘substantial improvement’.

“What we’d offered before the strike threat is exactly the same as what the RMT has been offered post strike threat.

“We now look forward to working constructively to improve things for our customers.”

The last tube strike in April led to the cancellation of nearly 50 per cent of services.