Strike by London Underground Workers Causes Major Disruption
Strikes by London Underground staff, set to begin on Friday, will lead to a complete closure of the underground system for four consecutive days starting from Monday. This disruption is due to ongoing disputes over pay and working conditions, affecting approximately 10,000 of the 15,000 London Underground staff represented by the RMT union.
Residents of London are advised to verify their travel plans for the upcoming week, as the strike is expected to severely limit tube services and potentially impact other modes of transportation in the city due to increased congestion. Although the Elizabeth line, London Overground, national rail services, and London buses will remain operational, the Docklands Light Railway will also be closed on Tuesday and Thursday, due to a separate dispute.
The RMT union has initiated the strike over issues related to working hours and conditions during pay negotiations. Despite Transport for London (TfL) offering a 3.4% pay increase, in line with inflation and previous pay agreements, the union insists on a reduction in the working week from 35 to 32 hours. So far, discussions between TfL and the RMT have been fruitless, leading to what could be the first significant strike under RMT’s new general secretary, Eddie Dempsey.
TfL asserts that it will operate as many services as possible and considers the pay offer fair and affordable. Aslef, a union representing around two-thirds of tube drivers, has accepted the deal and will not participate in the strike action.
The series of strikes begins with depot managers at Ruislip, with minimal service disruption expected until Sunday. However, action taken by power and track access controllers on Sunday will cause some disruption. Trains and station staff will strike on Monday and Wednesday, while signalers and service controllers will take action on Tuesday and Thursday. This could result in a near-standstill of tube train services from early Sunday to Friday morning.
The RMT has accused TfL management of failing to engage with their demands, including better fatigue management, reduced working hours, and improved conditions. In contrast, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer, Claire Mann, has called for the suspension of the strike, urging the RMT to consider their pay offer and continue discussions.
With tube operators earning an average of £71,000 annually and station staff earning £44,000, some service controllers reportedly earning over £100,000, the RMT is also seeking an extension of travel benefits. The union’s demands include heavily subsidized national rail travel perks.
A planned strike at the start of 2024 was averted after the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced an additional £30m for pay increases, a move that some critics suggested incentivized further industrial action this year. Meanwhile, the Aslef union has confirmed ongoing action at the national operator CrossCountry, including a strike on October 3, continuing a dispute with Hull Trains over a sacked driver.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/05/strikes-expected-london-tube-halt-four-days
