London, United Kingdom– The London Underground has come to a standstill as members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) began a week-long strike over pay and working hours.
Approximately 10,000 RMT members walked off their jobs on Sunday night, bringing the city’s underground train system to a halt. The strike, which started at 6 pm GMT on Sunday, will continue until Thursday.
The RMT is demanding better pay and shorter working hours, citing fatigue and extreme shift rotations as major concerns.
According to the union, the tube is operating with 2,000 fewer staff than before the pandemic, resulting in exhausting shifts, including 4 am starts and 1 am finishes. “Fatigue and understaffing are a dangerous mix,” the RMT warned in a post on X.
The transport union rejected an annual pay increase of 3.4 percent from Transport for London (TfL), which is the public body responsible for operating London’s buses, underground, and other transport services. RMT is pushing for reduced working hours from 35 to 32 hours a week. TfL, however, says any reduction in hours is “unaffordable and impractical”.
“We are not going on strike to disrupt small businesses or the public. This strike is going ahead because of the intransigent approach of TfL management and their refusal to even consider a small reduction in the working week in order to help reduce fatigue and the ill-health effects of long-term shift work on our members,” an RMT spokesperson said.
The strike has caused significant disruption to London’s transport network, with all tube lines suspended or partially suspended, except for the Elizabeth Line. Queues formed outside Elizabeth Line stations, and platforms in the city were crowded.
The TfL website crashed due to increased web traffic. According to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, “nobody wants to see strike action – it causes serious disruption for Londoners, businesses, and visitors alike.” Khan has called on TfL and RMT “to get around the table and resolve their dispute”.
No talks are currently scheduled between RMT and TfL, with their last round of talks collapsing on Wednesday.
The RMT has shown determination to reach a negotiated settlement, stating, “RMT will continue to engage LU management with a view to seeking a revised offer in order to reach a negotiated settlement”.
As the strike continues, commuters are advised to plan ahead, check for updates, and consider alternative modes of transport. The dispute highlights the ongoing challenges faced by transport workers in London and the need for a resolution that balances the demands of the union with the operational requirements of TfL.
The London Underground strike has entered its second day, with little to no service expected on all tube lines.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) is demanding better pay and shorter working hours, citing fatigue and extreme shift rotations as major concerns.
RMT members have been working strenuous shift patterns, including 4 am starts and 1 am finishes, which are impacting their health and wellbeing.
Commuters are advised to plan ahead, check for updates, and consider alternative modes of transport. The Elizabeth line, London Overground, and buses will continue to operate, but are expected to be extremely busy.
Some services may be unable to stop at all stations or run to their normal destination at times. Transport for London (TfL) has urged all Londoners to check their journeys before they travel and to consider walking, cycling, or using National Rail services.
Strike Schedule
The strike action, which started on Sunday, September 7, will continue until Friday, September 12, with varying levels of disruption expected:
- Monday, September 8 to Thursday, September 11: Little to no service expected on all London Underground lines.
- Tuesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 11: No service on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
- Friday, September 12: Services expected to resume by late morning, with a good service on all lines anticipated by noon.
The strike has already had wider repercussions, with iconic musician Coldplay rescheduling the final two dates of their Wembley Stadium concerts, citing the “impending London Underground strikes” as the reason.
This highlights the widespread impact of the strike, which is expected to hit London’s hospitality and retail sectors especially hard.
