London tube strikes announced for November

The London Underground is set to face weeks of disruption after two unions announced it will hold strikes next month in a row over pay.

Tube drivers represented by ASLEF said it will walk out for 24 hours from midnight on November 7 and November 12, while those under RMT revealed plans to walk out on different days between November 1 and November 8.

Last week, Finn Brennan, district organiser at ASLEF, posted on Instagram: “ASLEF members on London Underground have voted by a massive 98.8% margin in favour of industrial action as we pursue a fair settlement on pay and working conditions.”

Mick Lych, general secretary of the RMT, added: “London Underground’s pay offer falls short of what our members deserve. It threatens to remove collective bargaining for a growing portion of staff, pushing them into pay bands that are decided solely by management. This undermines our members’ rights and the core principles of fair negotiation.

“Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action to defend their terms and conditions.”

He said the RMT remains “open to negotiations” as long as there is a “fair and fully consolidated pay offer”.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “This is incredibly disappointing news and these strikes will have a significant impact on London’s hospitality and tourism businesses.

“The disruption will hit two key trading days and impact consumers, workers and the economy, as well as cause concern among businesses about potential disruption to the all-important Christmas trading period.

“Hospitality has already suffered £3.5bn in lost sales as a result of disruption over the past two years and we urge all sides to urgently reach a resolution.”

When has RMT proposed strikes on the London Underground?

1-2 November 2024
Engineering vehicles operations and maintenance staff will strike from 18:00 on 1 November to 17:59 on 2 November, with no overtime until 8 November.

3-4 November 2024
Track access controllers, control centre, and power/control staff will strike from 18:59 on 3 November to 18:59 on 4 November.

4 November 2024
Emergency Response Unit (ERU) staff will strike from 00:01 to 23:59.

5 November 2024
Fleet, engineering, stations, and trains staff (except ERU and engineering vehicles operations and maintenance) will strike from 00:01 to 23:59.

6-8 November 2024
Signallers and service controllers will strike from 00:01 to 23:59 on 6 November, with further strikes on 7 and 8 November.