A five day tube strike has started today as London Underground staff stage a walkout over pay and working conditions. Today (Sunday) there will be limited service until 6pm and little or no service between Monday and Thursday. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are calling for a 32-hour working week, which is a reduction by three hours, and increased pay. The Elizabeth line and Overground services are operating, but they will not stop at stations which are shared with the Tube.
Transport for London (TfL) has offered a 3.4% pay rise to union members. However, they said they are unable to reduce working hours for staff as it would be both “unaffordable and impractical”. This marks the first time where the entire underground network has been closed since March 2023. Nick Dent, TfL’s director of customer operations for the Tube, asked for further talks with RMT ahead of the strikes to stop them, yet was unsuccessful.
He said on Friday: “We have met four times in the past two weeks and we would welcome further talks. It is not too late to call off the strikes and put our offer to the RMT members.”
A separate dispute on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) means there will be further disruption, with no services on Tuesday and Thursday.
TfL issued advice ahead of the strikes saying alternative transport such as rail replacement services and buses will be “extremely busy”.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey announced the strikes last month. He said: “Our members are doing a fantastic job to keep our capital moving and work strenuous shift patterns to make sure Londoners get to their destinations around the clock.
“They are not after a King’s ransom, but fatigue and extreme shift rotations are serious issues impacting on our members health and wellbeing- all of which have not been adequately addressed for years by LU management.
“Coupled with the fact there are outstanding issues around staff travel arrangements, an atmosphere of distrust has been created, where our members feel like no one is listening to them.
“RMT will continue to engage LU management with a view to seeking a revised offer in order to reach a negotiated settlement.”