London Tube strikes live: Major walkout begins after last-ditch talks fail to resolve dispute – UK Times

As Tube strikes are set to take place across the capital on Tuesday and Thursday, many cafes and restaurants won’t see their usual number of customers.

When strikes took place in April, restaurateurs and cafe owners told The Independent how the were feeling the pinch.

RMT and TfL spoke for five hours with Acas acting as a concilation service on Monday

Services are set to be disrupted as talks between both sides failed.

During the strike action, no service is expected on the Circle line, Piccadilly line, the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street.

Service is expected across all other Tube lines on both days. However, there will be disruption to journeys and service levels will vary across the London Underground network.

On both days, there will be limited service before 6.30am and customers should complete their journeys by 9pm.

Service is expected to return to normal on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week.

A TfL spokesperson said: “It is bitterly disappointing that despite five hours of meetings with the RMT at Acas and repeated assurances that the four-day working week proposals will remain voluntary, RMT has chosen to continue with its disruptive strike action.

“We will do all we can to provide as much service as possible during this action.”

An RMT spokesperson said: “Despite our best efforts in Acas talks, TfL have failed to provide assurances on our members’ deeply held concerns around fatigue, reduced flexibility, shift lengths and the impact these proposals could have in a safety-critical role like Tube driving.

“We remain available for meaningful talks, but strike action tomorrow will now go ahead.”

The strikes are in response to issues including a new four-day week which the union says its members oppose.

As part of a trial ongoing on the Bakerloo line, drivers can voluntarily work a four-day week where their working week is reduced from 36 hours to 35 hours.

Their contractual hours would remain the same because paid meal breaks would be introduced. Drivers would work longer days , but fewer days each week and fewer overall hours each week.

The drivers’ union Aslef has accepted the new arrangements.

The RMT union has said this working day would be too long, risking driver fatigue and compromising safety.

Instead, they have proposed a 32-hour week over four days, meaning drivers would work three fewer hours each week for the same salary.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has maintained that there are serious concerns around proposals of a new four-day week, despite the drivers’ union Aslef accepting the new arrangements.

An RMT spokesperson said: “Our members have raised serious concerns around fatigue, longer shifts, reduced flexibility and the impact these proposals could have in a safety-critical role.”

A union source said Tube drivers had “very real” concerns about spending longer hours in the driver cab, becoming more fatigued, losing flexibility around their shifts and the impact that could have on a role where safety has to come first.”