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We hate to be the ones to tell you, but it looks as though London could be blighted by yet another major tube strike later this month.
Last week, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) revealed that an overwhelming majority of its members supported a walkout over TfL’s proposals to introduce a four-day work week for drivers. Of the 1,183 drivers that voted either for or against strike action, 91 percent were in favour. Another 1,113 took part in the ballot but were in support of action short of a strike.
Of course, if that many drivers were to walk out, it would cause major disruption for the city’s commuters. So, here’s everything we know.
When are the next London tube strikes?
No dates for the tube drivers’ strike have been confirmed yet, but the earliest it could happen would be mid-March. Union bosses have to give TfL two weeks’ notice before any walkouts happen, and no notice has been given yet.
Which Underground lines will be affected by strikes?
If an agreement isn’t reached and the strikes go ahead, it probably won’t cause a total shutdown of the Underground, as not all drivers are part of the RMT. That said, it would still cause severe disruption and delays across most lines.
Why are tube drivers striking?
Members of RMT have voted to strike against TfL’s proposed voluntary four-day work week for drivers, without any changes to their contractual hours. They’re concerned it will mean they’ll have to work ‘longer, more extreme shifts’, cause ‘hell for new and junior drivers’ and increase risk of fatigue.
However, fellow tube drivers’ union ASLEF actually supports the four-day week plan. It says it would be the ‘biggest improvement in working conditions for Underground train drivers in decades’. Almost 70 percent of its members who took part in a ballot voted in favour of the idea.
TfL plans to run a pilot scheme of the four-day week on the Bakerloo line before rolling it out onto other lines. A four-day arrangement is already in place on the London Overground and Elizabeth line.
What's been said about the strikes?
A representative from RMT said: ‘Our members will not accept TfL's plan to condense the working week for tube drivers where shift patterns will become unpredictable leading to fatigue and increasing safety risks.
‘A majority of Tube drivers when asked have rejected these proposals. And our members are prepared to take industrial action if there is no change in course by TfL.’
A spokesperson for TfL said: ‘We shared our proposal for a four-day working week with our trade unions last year. Since then, we have been engaging with them on how best to implement the new working pattern.
‘We have started talking with our unions about how to implement a four-day working week for train drivers on the Bakerloo line only.
‘The changes will be voluntary, there will be no reduction in contractual hours, and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern will be able to do so.
‘These changes will help us to improve reliability, improve our ability to flexibly deploy our drivers and enable us to offer a modern and efficient service while creating no additional cost.’
An ASLEF source told the Standard: ‘It's a shame that the RMT leadership has decided to campaign against a proposal that gives drivers an extra 35 days off every year along with a reduction in days and hours at work on a voluntary basis.
‘The deal involves modest changes to current working arrangements for train drivers (some of which are beneficial for staff) but some senior RMT reps have deliberately misrepresented the proposal.
‘If the RMT are to call a strike on this issue, it will be the first time in history that a trade union has asked its members to strike to stop workers having a shorter working week with more time off for no loss of pay!’
ICYMI: Here’s everything you need to know about the strikes happening on the London Overground.
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