London Underground drivers are preparing to walk out again this week in protest over a proposed four-day working week.
Transport for London (TfL) is seeking to replace the existing 36-hour schedule spread across five days with a 35-hour week over four days, along with the removal of one paid lunch break. Union leaders argue the proposed restructuring would lead to exhaustion and disrupt shift patterns, and are instead pushing for a 32-hour working pattern across four days.
In opposition to the proposal, which TfL insists would be voluntary, RMT members will stage industrial action across two 24-hour periods between May 19 and 22, mirroring the strikes that occurred in April.
Last month, both commuters and tourists endured significant travel chaos, with certain lines grinding to a complete halt. Ahead of the fresh action, TfL is encouraging passengers to explore alternative routes and plan their journeys ahead of time.
View 3 ImagesStrikes are set to cost the London economy up to £760m(Image: ZUMAPRESS.com / Avalon)
Tube drivers are staging two 24-hour walkouts from 12pm on Tuesday, May 19 and 12pm on Thursday, May 21:
Tuesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 21
- Morning – normal services expected until mid-morning
- Mid-morning – some disruption to journeys as services start to reduce ahead of strike action starting
- After midday – disruption to journeys expected on all lines and Tube services that do run will finish early.
Wednesday, May 20 and Friday, May 22
- Morning – disruption to journeys expected on all lines. Tube services that do run will start later than normal
- After midday – continued disruption to journeys throughout the afternoon and evening as services return to normal
- Evening – normal service.
Tube strikes have previously been called off with very little notice thanks to breakthroughs in talks at the eleventh hour. At the time of writing, however, the strikes are set to go ahead.
Similar to the April strikes, the majority of the Tube network is set to be impacted by the upcoming industrial action. TfL has warned that two lines may face more severe disruption owing to the greater number of RMT drivers operating on these routes.
- Circle line: No service expected
- Piccadilly line: No service expected
No service is also expected on a stretch of the Metropolitan Line (between Baker Street and Aldgate) and Central Line (between White City and Liverpool Street), reports the Express.
TfL also warned that while service is anticipated on the remaining Underground lines, “there will be disruption to journeys” and “service levels will vary throughout the week”.
View 3 ImagesSome services will still be running(Image: Getty)
While commuters and visitors will undoubtedly face disruptions, some services will still be running should the strike not be cancelled.
Similar to April, the Elizabeth Line, DLR, buses, London Trams and London Overground will operate as usual.
These routes are likely to be busier than normal as they’ll accommodate Tube passengers looking for alternative routes, MyLondon reports.
Following the strikes held across April 21, 22, 23 and 24, two additional rounds of strikes are scheduled to take place over the working hours dispute.
Apart from the strikes planned for the upcoming week, commuters may anticipate further disruption on the following days in June:
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- June 16-17
- June 18-19