London Tube drivers to stage eight days of strikes

Summarised from 7 outlets · Updated 6 Nov, 11:21 · Archive

London Underground drivers will stage eight 24-hour strikes from November to February over plans for a four-day working week.

London Underground drivers will stage eight 24-hour strikes in a dispute over new working arrangements, the RMT union has announced. The strikes will begin at noon on 26 November and continue on 17 and 19 December, 4 and 6 January, and 17, 23 and 25 February.

The dispute centres on London Underground's proposals to introduce a voluntary four-day working week. All five outlets confirm the RMT opposes the scheme, arguing it forces drivers to surrender existing protections regardless of whether they work four or five days.

Under the proposals, drivers would face spending more time operating trains, longer and more unpredictable shift patterns, earlier starts and later finishes, according to the RMT. The union also warns of short-notice shift changes and threats to existing transfer rights and annual leave arrangements.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: 'London Underground is attempting to dress up a wholesale attack on drivers' working conditions as a voluntary four-day week. But there is nothing voluntary about a scheme that forces drivers to give up existing protections whether they work four days or five, and threatens those who refuse with displacement from their depots.' He added that the proposals are 'about squeezing more work out of fewer drivers'.

The Independent and City AM report that the RMT believes the changes could pave the way for hundreds of job cuts, citing initial rosters published for the Bakerloo line indicating significant staffing reductions. City AM notes that the separate train drivers' union Aslef has accepted a deal by transport bosses.

City AM reports that RMT chief Eddie Dempsey has called on London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, chair of Transport for London, to withdraw the proposals. No comment from London Underground or the mayor's office has been reported by any of the outlets.

How it is being reported

• All the London Tube strike dates in November, December and January as Christmas travel chaos loomsWhen will the RMT strikes hit London over the next three months?Evening Standard · 6 Nov, 12:46
• Commuters and shoppers face disruption from tube driver strikes in run-up to ChristmasRMT union calls eight 24-hour strikes on London Underground in opposition to plans for four-day week Tube train drivers in the RMT union have called eight 24-hour strikes running over 16 days – including six in the lead-up to Christmas – that threaten to bring transport chaos to the capital. The drivers will start another series of 24-hour strikes in late November in opposition to plans for a four-day week – a proposal that has been warmly welcomed by the majority of London Underground drivers represented by the Aslef union. Continue reading...Guardian Business · 6 Nov, 11:12
• Fresh tube strikes planned over four monthsA series of tube strikes have been planned between November and February as unionised train drivers hit out at four-day working week proposals. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced that tube drivers will launch industrial action for a total of eight days, starting on Thursday 26 November. The rolling [...]City AM · 6 Nov, 11:11
• London Underground strike: Brits face travel chaos amid new walkouts - full list of daysThe union said the walkouts will start later this month.Daily Express · 6 Nov, 11:03
• London Underground strikes: Drivers to stage series of 24-hour walkoutsLondon is set for more tube strikes in the coming monthsThe Independent · 6 Nov, 10:59
• London Tube drivers to go on strike across three months as RMT union continues fight against four-day working weekLondon Underground drivers are to stage a series of 24-hour strikes in the next few months in a dispute over working arrangements, the RMT union has announced.Daily Mail · 6 Nov, 10:59
• London set for tube strike chaos as RMT announces new wave of 24-hour walkoutsLondon is set for more strike chaos in the coming months. Tube workers will stage a series of 24-hour walkouts in the coming months in a dispute over working arrangements. This is a breaking story, more to follow... TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Our Standards: The GB News Editorial CharterGB News · 6 Nov, 10:50

In this story: RMT · London Underground · Eddie Dempsey · Aslef · Transport for London · Sadiq Khan · London · Bakerloo line

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log