Workers on the London Underground are poised to initiate a strike during the early part of November as part of an ongoing conflict regarding compensation and workplace conditions.
The strike is scheduled to occur from 1 to 16 November following a rejection of a pay proposal from Transport for London (TfL) by members of both ASLEF, the union for train operators, and RMT, which represents the majority of other Tube personnel.
Members of ASLEF who serve as drivers, instructors, managers, and engineers will stage their walkouts across four days between 1 and 16 November.
Additionally, they will refrain from working extra hours on various days as per their respective roles.
Below are the anticipated dates for significant disruptions:
1 November
Engineering drivers from both ASLEF and RMT, along with maintenance personnel from RMT, will strike for 24 hours starting at 6pm.
Furthermore, all ASLEF and RMT staff will be prohibited from working overtime from this date until 8 November.
2 November
Engineering drivers and maintenance personnel will continue their strike action until 5.59pm, with the overtime ban remaining in effect.
3 November
RMT access controllers for the tracks, control centre employees, and power/control personnel will commence their strike at 6.59am.
The overtime restriction for engineering drivers and maintenance staff will remain.
Additionally, ASLEF managers will not engage in any overtime from the start of 3 November until 16 November.
4 November
RMT emergency response unit members will strike the entire day.
Meanwhile, RMT track access controllers, control centre staff, and power/control personnel will conclude their strike at 6.59am.
The overtime ban for engineering drivers and maintenance staff will persist.
ASLEF managers will also continue with their overtime ban.
5 November
RMT personnel across fleet, engineering, stations, and trains will strike throughout the day.
The overtime restriction for engineering drivers and maintenance staff remains in place.
The overtime ban for ASLEF managers is ongoing.
6 November
RMT signallers and service controllers will strike all day.
The overtime ban for engineering drivers and maintenance staff continues.
ASLEF management overtime ban remains.
7 November
ASLEF train operators, instructors, and managers will strike throughout the day.
RMT personnel across fleet, engineering, stations, and trains will also strike all day.
The overtime ban for engineering drivers and maintenance staff continues.
ASLEF manager overtime restriction remains in effect.
8 November
RMT signallers and service controllers will engage in strike action all day.
The overtime prohibition for engineering drivers and maintenance staff continues until 11.59pm.
ASLEF manager overtime restriction is ongoing.
9 November
The ASLEF manager overtime ban remains in place.
10 November
The ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
11 November
The ASLEF manager overtime ban persists.
12 November
ASLEF train operators, instructors, and management staff will strike all day.
The ASLEF manager overtime ban remains in force.
13 November
The ASLEF manager overtime ban is still in effect.
14 November
The ASLEF manager overtime restriction persists.
15 November
The ASLEF manager overtime prohibition is ongoing.
16 November
The ASLEF manager overtime ban continues until 11.59pm.
Which lines will be impacted and how can I stay informed?
TfL has not provided specifics on affected lines, only indicating that “significant disruption” should be anticipated on certain days if the strikes proceed.
It recommends planning ahead prior to travel by utilizing its journey planner and status update page.
What have ASLEF and RMT stated?
ASLEF members overwhelmingly endorsed the action, with 98.8% supporting a strike, reflecting a turnout of 68%.
Finn Brennan, the ASLEF organiser for London Underground, remarked: “We have no desire to strike – we do not wish to complicate travel in and around the city for passengers, nor do we wish to forfeit a day’s pay – but we have been compelled into this stance because London Underground management has failed to engage in earnest negotiations.”
He noted that TfL’s pay proposal of 3.8% plus a variable lump sum “ensures Underground drivers remain on lower salaries than their counterparts in other TfL services while working longer hours”.
ASLEF has stated that TfL management has declined to address crucial matters, such as the reduction of the working week and the introduction of paid meal breaks to align drivers’ conditions with those on the Elizabeth line and London Overground.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch declared: “No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management determines which of our members receive a pay increase and which do not.”
“We are still willing to negotiate, but London Underground must return to the table with a comprehensive, inclusive proposal that acknowledges the rights of all our members. Until such terms are met, our planned industrial action will continue.”
What is TfL’s position?
A spokesperson for TfL stated: “We have conducted numerous constructive dialogues with our trade unions and, in light of their feedback, have presented a revised offer that provides an average increase of 4.6%, prioritizing rewards for our hardworking staff, especially those with lower salaries.”
“We are collaborating with our unions in good faith, having augmented our proposal since discussions began, and have invited our unions for another meeting next week.”
“Our proposal is just for our personnel and feasible for London, and we implore our unions to continue collaborating with us to support London and its broader economy.”
A representative for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan stated: “The mayor urges ASLEF and TfL to collaborate to avert this industrial action.”
