RMT union members are striking over TfL’s proposed four-day working week, causing major disruption across the London Underground network this week, with parts of the Jubilee, Northern, Victoria, Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines shut.
Multiple lines are experiencing disruption this week as Tube strikes affect London. The industrial action started on Tuesday at midday, as RMT train drivers accused Transport for London (TfL) of imposing a new, four-day working week.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) confirmed that its members will be on strike from 12pm for 24 hours on Tuesday and Thursday. RMT said TfL proposal would “compress” the working week and could also compromise safety. Today, passengers are being advised to anticipate disruption on all lines after midday.
No service is anticipated on the Piccadilly and Circle lines, the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street.
The Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, and tram services will be operating normally on strike days, TfL said. These services, however, are expected to be extremely busy.
TfL also provided the following information: “The vast majority of buses will be running normally throughout these strikes, but 7 bus routes operated by Stagecoach will be affected by separate strike action between 5am on Friday, April 24 and 5am on Saturday, April 25. Other buses will run as usual.”
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Here is a reminder of the Tube lines that will have no services during the strikes. Parts of the Bakerloo, Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, and Waterloo & City are shut. Strike actions are also planned for tomorrow.
Certain bus routes will also be disrupted by a separate strike. The overwhelming majority of buses will operate normally throughout these strikes. But, seven bus routes run by Stagecoach will be impacted by separate strike action between 5am on Friday, April 24 and 5am on Saturday, April 25. All other buses will run as normal.
The affected bus services are: 8, 25, 205, 425, N8, N25 and N205, reports the Express.
“We expect that the 25 and 425 will run a near normal service for most of the day throughout the strikes. The N8 will run a reduced route between Hainault and Liverpool Street at its usual frequency. The other affected routes are likely to be severely delayed and subject to cancellations,” TfL said in an update on its website.
Commenting on the strikes scheduled for this month, union leaders stated that while the working week would technically be shorter in terms of days, the lengthier shifts could heighten driver fatigue.
They also expressed concern that the changes might enable management to extend maximum driving time, force drivers to start earlier or finish later, alter shifts with as little as one day’s notice, and reduce flexibility for drivers wishing to transfer between depots. TfL branded the strikes as “completely unnecessary” and revealed it was presently testing a voluntary four-day week for drivers on the Bakerloo Line.
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.”
