London Underground workers are to stage a series of strikes in a dispute over pay and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said its members on the Tube will take industrial action at different times from September 5, for seven days.
The union claimed management had refused to engage seriously with its demands on pay, fatigue management, shift patterns and a reduction in the working week. In a separate dispute over pay and conditions, RMT members on London’s Docklands Light Railway will also be striking in the week beginning September 7.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey 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.”
A Transport for London spokesperson said: “We regularly meet with our trade unions to discuss any concerns that they may have, and we recently met with the RMT to discuss some specific points. We are committed to ensuring our colleagues are treated fairly and, as well as offering a 3.4% pay increase in our ongoing pay discussions, we have made progress on a number of commitments we have made previously.
“We welcome further engagement with our unions about fatigue and rostering across London Underground, but a reduction in the contractual 35-hour working week is neither practical nor affordable. Given the improvements we have recently put in place in response to concerns raised by our unions, we urge the RMT to put our fair, affordable pay offer to their members and to continue to engage with us rather than threaten strike action, which will only disrupt Londoners.”
Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy said: “The impending week-long RMT strike on London Underground and DLR lines poses a significant challenge for commuters across the capital. This industrial action, particularly as it marks the first major disruption for some time and coincides with the post-summer holiday return to work and schools reopening, is set to create substantial travel chaos.
“While there’s always hope for a last-minute cancellation or postponement, the very preparation for such strikes will impact the network, as tube stock may be repositioned, leading to a potential knock-on effect even if the strikes are averted.
“For those commuters who are unable to avoid travelling during the strike days, I strongly advise to explore alternative transport options such as buses or even Lime Bikes. Commuters should also factor in potential ripple effects on the London Overground, as connecting stations will likely experience increased pressure. It’s a given that all remaining transport modes will face heightened demand, especially through morning and evening rush hours.”
Nick said his tops for better travel are:
- Stay informed – monitor real-time travel updates and take a look on social media platforms such a X to get live, on the ground updates
- If feasible, look to travel after the strike period (this is an option for you to avoid cancellations altogether) however for those who need to get into work, this will be challenging
- Find an alternative way to travel ahead of time and ahead of other passengers
- Avoid travelling during peak times as congestion will affect travel between these days
