Tube strikes: Travel chaos as London Underground drivers set to walk out

London Underground drivers will stage a series of 24-hour strikes in the next few months in a dispute over working hours, the RMT union announced.

Members of the union will walk out at midday on 21 and 23 April, 19 and 21 May, as well as 16 and 18 June.

All strikes run from 12 noon to 12 noon the following day, but TfL warns that disruption will continue into the afternoons and evenings of strike days.

The RMT said its members are taking action because transport bosses are pushing ahead with a plan to compress a normal working week into four days, despite the proposals being rejected by a majority of train operators in a referendum.

The union said its members have concerns about shift lengths, working time arrangements, transfer and allocation processes, and the potential impact on fatigue and safety.

In response, Transport for London (TfL) said the proposed four-day working week would be for train drivers on the Bakerloo line only, adding that the changes to working patterns would be voluntary. It called on the union to cancel proposed strike action.

The strike dates are as follows:

Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, said in a statement in March: “London Underground is trying to force through major changes to working patterns that have already been rejected by our members.

"We are clear that these proposals raise serious concerns around fatigue, safety and work-life balance.

"Despite our best efforts over many months, no satisfactory outcome has been reached so we have no choice but to call strike dates.

"There is still time for London Underground to come up with a workable solution but we will take strike action if we cannot get a negotiated settlement."

TfL said it is asking customers to check before they travel ahead of planned strike action.

“TfL is working hard to resolve the dispute, with dialogue with the union ongoing, and will operate as many services as possible should strikes go ahead. TfL is urging the union to call off their action and continue to work together on proposals to pilot a four-day week for train operators,” it said.

Should the April strikes go ahead, TfL expects there to be some services on most lines, but with significant disruption, and all other normally-operating TfL services like the Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, and trams are likely to be very busy.

Buses are expected to run as usual, aside from seven routes operated by Stagecoach from Bow Bus Garage, which are being affected by a separate strike from 5am on three Fridays, 17 and 24 April and 15 May, lasting 24 hours until 5am the following day.

Two previous strike dates planned by RMT, on 24 and 26 March, were called off following talks. TfL says the April, May and June dates remain in place.

Read more: Two 24-hour Tube strikes in March called off