Timeline shows a history of London Underground strikes going back 25 years, and why they happened

A timeline of Tube strikes shows the frequency, nature of the disputes, and the outcomes

Transport for London re-enters negotiations with the union batting for Tube drivers today, as they try to resolve a dispute over pay and hours which led to last week’s strikes. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) walked out from September 8 to 11, crippling services and leaving only a few London Underground trains running.

Commuters switched to buses, bikes or trains not affected by the dispute, defying efforts to bring the capital to a standstill. As both sides returned for talks at TfL’s Palestra headquarters on Wednesday morning (September 17), RMT General Secretary told the Evening Standard he was ‘quietly optimistic’ about reaching a deal, but warned of more walkouts if TfL refuses to budge.

Last week, TfL’s chief negotiator Nick Dent invited the union to further talks, saying: “We want to discuss the issue of fatigue management with you and would like to continue this dialogue next week.” TfL has already tabled a 3.4 per cent pay rise, but so far the union remains committed to cutting hours down from 35 to 32 a week, as well as the bump in pay.

The current ballot (with more than 6,000 of the 10,000 members voting in favour) was declared on July 29, so the mandate continues until the end of January 2026. Legally the RMT must give TfL a two-week notice period of any intended action. If this week’s talks between TfL and the RMT grind to a halt, Londoner’s could be back on buses and two wheels before Christmas.

To give you a sense of how Tube strikes panned out in the past, take a look at our timeline…

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