London is set for more travel chaos next week as the Underground is hit by two 24-hour Tube strikes.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union voted for walkouts back in February, with April seeing 48 hours of strikes. Further planned industrial action in March and May was called off.
If the dispute between Transport for London (TfL) and the RMT is not resolved, the latest strikes will take place a day apart on Tuesday (June 2) from midnight to 11.59pm, and on Thursday (June 4) during the same times.
The strike would mean no service on the Circle and Piccadilly lines. There would also be no service between Baker Street and Aldgate on the Metropolitan Line, or between White City and Liverpool Street on the Central Line.
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The graph belows shows how next week’s strike action is expected to affect Tube services.
The red symbol indicates services will finish early or start late, while the yellow symbol indicates disruption to journeys.
A graph shows how strike action will affect Tube services(Image: Transport for London)
The industrial action, called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, relates to a dispute over plans to introduce a voluntary four-day working week, which would condense Tube drivers’ weekly hours.
The RMT union has called the plan “fake” and said it raises “serious concerns from our members about shift length and resulting fatigue impacting safety”.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said union members have “approached negotiations with Transport for London (TfL) in good faith” but “TfL seem unwilling to make any concessions”.
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, defended the proposal, saying it would give drivers an extra day off and bring the Underground “in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies”.
“The changes would be voluntary,” she said. “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.”
Eliana NunesToday15:21 BST
It comes after plans for Tube drivers to strike in April were called off by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.
A spokesperson for the union said at the time: “At the 11th hour the employer has shifted its position allowing us to further explore our members concerns around the imposition of new rosters, fatigue and safety issues. The dispute is not over and more strike action will follow if we fail to make sufficient progress.”
Eliana Nunes
Today14:37 BST
No services would be expected on two lines if the industrial action goes ahead, with sections of two others also affected – and while other lines will be operating, severe disruption should be anticipated across the entire TfL network.
TfL have advised commuters to complete their journeys across the capital before 9pm on both strike days, warning that in the early morning – before 6.30am – there will be a limited service “because services will start late and finish early”. They have also cautioned that the number of trains in operation will vary across the network.
The affects, in full, would be:
- No service on Circle Line
- No service on Piccadilly line
- No service between Baker Street and Aldgate on Metropolitan Line
- No service between White City and Liverpool Street on the Central Line
- Reduced services on Bakerloo Line, Jubilee Line, Northern Line, District Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Victoria Line, Waterloo & City
Christopher MallettToday14:37 BST
The strikes will take place a day apart and last a full 24 hours each, with disruption expected the following mornings as the services start to resume.
Here is when the strikes will take place:
- Tuesday June 2 (midnight to 11.59pm)
- Thursday June 4 (midnight to 11.59pm)
There would be no service on the Central Line if the strikes go ahead(Image: AFP via Getty Images)