“Little or no services” expected to run on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as RMT union members stage latest walkout over pay

Strike action is expected to severely impact London Underground services for several days next week as a series of walkouts are staged by RMT union members.

Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers that there will be “severe disruption” across the tube network, with “little or no service expected” between the evening of Sunday, 7th January, and the morning of Friday, 12th January, if the planned strikes go ahead.

RMT and TfL are locked in a dispute over pay and staffing levels, with RMT general secretary Mick Lynch describing the latest offer from tube bosses as “unacceptable”.

RMT members in network control functions will strike on 7th-8th January, signaling and service control workers on the 9th and 11th, and all other RMT members, including engineering, fleet maintenance, stations and train operators, on the 8th and 10th.

TfL has now announced what level of service it expects to be able to provide during the week.

On Sunday 7th, tube services will end earlier than normal. Customers are advised to complete tube journeys by 5.30pm, although the Piccadilly and Victoria lines will stay open until 7.30pm to help football fans attending the Arsenal v Liverpool game to get home.

From Monday 8th to Thursday 11th, severe disruption is expected, with little to no tube service expected to run. On Friday 12th, tube services will start later than normal, with a good service expected by 12pm.

While Londoners will still be able to travel on London Overground, Elizabeth Line, Docklands Light Railway and tram services, they may be subject to last-minute changes, including non-stopping at some stations shared with London Underground, although TfL says it “will do everything possible to keep these open at all times”.

London buses are also expected to operate normally during this planned strike action but are expected to be far busier than usual.

Talks between TfL and RMT are currently ongoing. TfL says that it “made a full and final offer” to tube workers in November “to increase the base pay for all London Underground workers by 5%”.

The offer was accepted by members of the Aslef trade union, which represents tube drivers. But RMT says the offer is “unacceptable” when TfL has “created a bonus pot of £13m for senior managers and the commissioner took an 11% pay rise in 2023, taking his salary up to £395,000”.

Mick Lynch said: “The refusal of TfL to restore staff travel facilities and create a two-tier workforce is also unacceptable.

“Our members have made it clear that they are prepared to take action and we urge TfL to improve their offer to avert disruption in the capital.”

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said:  “We are disappointed that RMT is planning strike action in response to our offer of a 5% pay increase. We have been clear throughout our productive discussions with our trade unions that this offer is the most we can afford while ensuring that we can operate safely, reliably and sustainably.

“We encourage the RMT to engage with us to avoid disruption for Londoners. We would like to advise anyone travelling during the strike days to check before they travel.”

For the latest information on how TfL services are operating during the strikes:
Visit tfl.gov.uk/strikes

Update (8th January):

The tube strike has been cancelled.

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