Tube strikes across London are going ahead this week, with more planned in the coming months, as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union accuses Transport for London (TfL) of refusing to negotiate to avoid walkout chaos.
The strikes by London Underground drivers began today, on Tuesday 21 April, and will continue throughout the week, bringing commuter chaos to the capital.
The RMT union confirmed on Saturday that its members will walk out from 12pm for 24 hours on Tuesday and Thursday this week, in a response to the TfL’s proposal of a new, four-day working week. The action by the RMT comes despite members of the Aslef union voting to accept the proposal for a four-day working week, and the TfL’s claims that the four-day week is voluntary and not being forced on drivers.
Business leaders appealed for the industrial action to be called off, as it will affect millions of people travelling in London and cost the city an estimated £210million. However, the hope of successful talks to avert the strike action ended when the RMT accused TfL bosses of breaking their promises to negotiate in good faith. It is now likely that further strike action will go ahead in May and June this year.
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, had previously issued a plea for TfL and the RMT to come to an agreement to prevent the strikes from going ahead, due to the serious impact they have on businesses, tourists and commuters.
This weeks’ strike action will bring significant disruption. All lines will run on a reduced service, with the Piccadilly and Circle lines expected to run at all. There will also be no service on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, or on the Central line between White City and Aldgate. Unlike previous strikes, services will be affected from midday, with the effects of the strike felt across four working days.
TfL states that services will vary across lines, urging passengers to check before they travel.