Monday, January 08, 2024

UK
Tube strikes: Dates and services affected in London Underground walkouts



Chris Price
Fri, 5 January 2024 

Mick Lynch, head of the RMT, which has rejected the latest 5pc pay offer from London Underground - James Manning/PA

Commuters are bracing for a week of travel chaos on the Tube as workers begin strike action.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will stage a series of walkouts from Sunday Jan 7 in protest at a 5pc pay offer. RMT engineers are also staging a walkout out on Friday evening, but the biggest disruption to services will be from Sunday evening to Friday January 12.

Transport for London (TfL) said there would be little or no service between the evening of Sunday Jan 7 and the morning of Friday Jan 12 if the strikes go ahead.

A second trade union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), is also threatening industrial action against London Underground in a dispute over pay. It is ballotting its London Underground members after rejecting a 5pc pay offer and plans to freeze pay bands and salary ranges.

Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA general secretary, said: “Our members on London Underground are deeply unhappy at this sub-standard and simply unrealistic offer.

“We will now move to a ballot for industrial action, raising the very real prospect of a crippling strike on the Tube.”

Here is everything you need to know about the strike action:

When will the strike action take place?

Sunday, January 7: Tube services will close earlier than normal. Passengers are advised by Transport for London to complete Tube journeys by 5.30pm.

Monday, January 8 to Thursday, January 11: severe disruption is expected, with little to no service expected to run across the London Underground network.

Friday, January 12: Tube services will start later than normal, with services expected to return to normal by midday.

How will I be able to get around London?


London Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR, tram, bus and National Rail services are not involved in this strike action.

However, many services will be much busier than normal and affected by station closures where stations also serve London Underground lines.

Queuing and one-way systems may be in place.

Why are Tube workers going on strike?


The RMT said the latest pay offer of 5pc from London Underground is “unacceptable”.

It said Transport for London (TfL) has created a bonus pot of £13m for senior managers, while the commissioner took an 11pc pay rise in 2023 taking his salary up to £395,000.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The refusal of TfL to restore staff travel facilities and create a two-tier workforce is also unacceptable.

“Our members have made it clear that they are prepared to take action and we urge TfL to improve their offer to avert disruption in the capital.”

What have Transport for London said?

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We are disappointed that RMT is planning strike action in response to our offer of a 5pc pay increase.

“We have been clear throughout our productive discussions with our trade unions that this offer is the most we can afford while ensuring that we can operate safely, reliably and sustainably.

“We encourage the RMT to engage with us to avoid disruption for Londoners. We would like to advise anyone travelling during the strike days to check before they travel.”


Tube strikes go ahead after last-ditch pay talks break down


Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
Fri, 5 January 2024 

Strikes by London Underground workers will go ahead from Friday evening after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a pay dispute.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out throughout the next week, causing huge disruption to services.

The union is in dispute over a 5% pay offer and other issues including travel facilities.

The action will begin at 6pm on Friday when maintenance train workers at Ruislip Depot will walk out for 24 hours.

Control staff will strike on Sunday for 24 hours and from Monday to Wednesday nearly 10,000 RMT members will strike across the Tube.



An RMT spokesperson said: “Transport for London has failed to avert this strike by not offering a deal that was acceptable to our members on London Underground.

“We do not take strike action lightly but we are determined to get a negotiated settlement on pay, travel facilities and a grading structure that means our members will not lose out.”

Strikes by London Underground workers will be as follows:

– Friday January 5, 1800 hours, to Saturday January 6, 1759 – maintenance train workers at Ruislip Depot

– Sunday January 7, 0001, to Monday January 8, 2359 – LU Control Centre, track access control and power control

– Monday January 8, 0001, to Wednesday January 10, 2359 – including station staff and train operators

– Tuesday January 9, 0001, to Thursday January 11, 2359 – service controllers, signallers and line information

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