London Underground drivers who are members of the RMT union will walk out for 24 hours on eight separate dates, the union has confirmed, with the first Tube strike dates falling on 26 November and the last on 25 February. The dispute centres on Transport for London’s proposal to move drivers to a four-day working week.
When the strikes are planned
The RMT has called walkouts on 26 November, 17 December, 19 December, 4 January, 6 January, 17 February, 23 February and 25 February. Each is scheduled to last a full day.
Earlier this year, a series of spring strikes over the same issue caused major disruption, with some lines shut completely. Talks have continued since then, but the union has not accepted TfL’s terms.
What the two sides say
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said London Underground was presenting a far-reaching attack on drivers’ conditions as a voluntary four-day week. He said members were being asked to spend more time driving, take on longer and less predictable shifts and give up long-standing agreements. The union also believes the changes would prepare the ground for hundreds of job losses.
TfL says the four-day week is voluntary and would mean drivers work fewer hours overall. The organisation has promised that any driver who chooses to stay on a five-day week will be guaranteed the same depot. Nick Dent, director of customer operations for London Underground, said the arrangement offers colleagues a genuine choice about their working pattern without having to move workplace, and that it would reduce time at work while producing a more efficient and reliable service.
Aslef's response
About half of the network’s drivers belong to the RMT, while many others are represented by Aslef. Aslef said it was surprised by the strike call. Finn Brennan, the union’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said the voluntary four-day week would give drivers an extra 35 days off a year, with rosters based on a 34-hour week, in exchange for some changes to conditions and a shift from paper-based to electronic booking-on systems. He added that management had agreed anyone who wanted to remain on a five-day week could do so without detriment, and that Aslef would hold them to that commitment. He described a strike aimed at stopping people from having the choice of a shorter week as a strange decision.
The hours at the heart of the dispute
Under TfL’s proposals, most drivers would see their working week fall from 36 hours to 35, according to the transport body. Contractual hours would stay the same because paid meal breaks would be introduced. In practice, drivers would work longer days but on fewer days each week, with fewer hours overall each week.
The RMT is seeking a 32-hour week across four days, which would mean drivers working three fewer hours each week for the same salary.
Concern over Christmas disruption
BusinessLDN said the action is likely to hit the hospitality sector especially in the run-up to Christmas. Ed Richardson, the group’s transport programme director, said the strikes would bring no festive cheer to Londoners and visitors who depend on the Tube, and urged both sides to reach an agreement quickly to avoid damaging disruption.
