Last ditch talks are scheduled for Monday in an bid to avert planned strike action by London Underground drivers this week in a long-running dispute over working hours.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are planning to walk out on Tuesday and Thursday, in a move which threatens huge travel disruption in the capital.
The strikes are in response to issues including a new four-day week which the union says its members oppose. The drivers’ union Aslef has accepted the new arrangements.
Claire Mann, Transport for London’s (TfL) chief operating officer, said: “We still believe that the points they have raised can be worked out in time, through more detailed discussions and we are continuing to talk to the union’s representatives to find a way to avoid disruption to London.”
TfL has advised passengers to check before they travel if the strikes go ahead.
A union 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.”
RMT were due to walk out for 24 hours from midday on Tuesday 19 May, and again on Thursday 21 May but the action was called off at the last minute.
Strikes scheduled for June 16 and 18 have also been called off, but the union announced the new, earlier 24-hour strike dates of June 2 and 4 if the dispute remains unresolved.
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said the proposals for a four-day working week allow the company to “offer train operators an additional day off, whilst at the same time bringing London Underground in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no additional cost”.
She added: “The changes would be voluntary, there would be no reduction in contractual hours and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so.”
TfL has set out what travellers can expect during strike days, with certain lines more affected than others. Here’s what you need to know:
What dates are the Tube strikes?
With the June dates changed, the new strike dates will be:
- Tuesday 2 June to Wednesday 3 June
- Thursday 4 June to Friday 5 June
What time will the Tube shut and reopen?
The planned strike action will take significant parts of the network out of action for half of two consecutive days, lasting from midday to midday.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays travellers can expect normal service until mid-morning, when services will begin to ramp down. There will be significant disruption on all lines from midday, and lines that do run will finish early.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, Tube services that do run will begin later, with no service expected before 7.30am. There will be significant disruption until midday, when normal service will begin to resume, but with delays very likely.
Which Tube lines will be affected?
TfL says the strikes will affect the whole Tube network, but a reduced service will still run on most lines with significant disruption.
However, there will be no service on the:
- Piccadilly and Circle lines
- Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate
- Central line between White City and Liverpool Street
Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, and tram services will be running normally on strike days, but are likely to be very busy.
