Londoners are braced for travel misery next week as tube drivers prepare to walk out on two 24-hour strikes.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) confirmed today that its members will walk out from midday for 24 hours on Tuesday 21st and Thursday 23rd April.
Their members have accused Transport for London (TfL) of imposing a new, compressed four-day working week – which the union claims could increase fatigue and compromise safety.
TfL have rejected these claims adding that the amended working week – which will see a five-day working week compressed into four – was a voluntary change.
The strikes will affect the entire tube network with no services on the Piccadilly and Circles lines and limited services on other lines.
The Elizabeth Line, DLR, London Overground and trams will be operating as normal but are expected to be extremely busy and passengers have been urged to check before they travel.
Some bus routes in the capital operated by Stagecoach will be affected by a separate 24-hour strike from 5am on Friday April 24.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: ‘We have approached negotiations with TfL in good faith throughout this entire process, but despite our best efforts, TfL seem unwilling to make any concessions in a bid to avert strike action.
‘This is extremely disappointing and has baffled our negotiators.
‘The approach of TfL is not one which leads to industrial peace and will infuriate our members who want to see a negotiated settlement to this avoidable dispute.’
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: ‘We have set out proposals to the RMT for a four-day working week.
‘This allows us to offer train operators an additional day off, whilst at the same time bringing London Underground in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no additional cost.
‘The changes would be voluntary, 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.’
Last month, similar strikes were called off following negotiations between the Underground management and the RMT union.
At the time Mr Dempsey said the RMT had ‘forced management into a position where they are now willing to seriously engage with the issues our members want addressing. Further talks will take place and the dispute remains live.’
Meanwhile, business leaders have urged the union to call off next week’s strikes warning that it could deliver a huge £210million blow to the capital’s economy.
Ed Richardson, transport programme director at BusinessLDN, told The Standard: ‘At a time when the economy is weak and firms are already dealing with the economic fallout from the war in Iran, these strikes are a damaging own goal for the capital.’
Further strikes are planned in May – on Tuesday 19 to Wednesday 20 May And Thursday 21 to Friday 22 May – and in June from Tuesday 16 June to Wednesday 17 June and on Thursday 18 June to Friday 19 June.
