A series of tube strikes have been planned between November and February as unionised train drivers hit out at four-day working week proposals.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced that tube drivers will launch industrial action for a total of eight days, starting on Thursday 26 November.
The rolling 24-hour tube strikes are the latest industrial action to stem from opposition to four-day work weeks set out by Transport for London.
Four-day working week arrangements are voluntary under TfL plans, with drivers able to opt in to work for four days instead of five.
RMT opposes the plan as trade unionists have argued that a compression of the working week will lead to longer hours worked, including earlier starts and later finishes, as well as short-notice changes to shifts.
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The union believes working rights will be weakened as a result, with some tube drivers also fearing that the change could “pave the way for hundreds of job cuts” following published staffing plans for the Bakerloo line.
The separate train drivers’ union Aslef has accepted a deal by transport bosses.
Tube strikes to hit London again
RMT chief Eddie Dempsey called on Sir Sadiq Khan, the London mayor who is the chair of TfL, to withdraw the proposals.
“London Underground is attempting to dress up a wholesale attack on drivers’ working conditions as a voluntary four-day week,” Dempsey said.
“There is nothing voluntary about a scheme that forces drivers to give up existing protections whether they work four days or five, and threatens those who refuse with displacement from their depots.
“RMT is not opposed to a genuine four-day working week that benefits our members, but we will not accept it being used as a vehicle for job cuts, intensified working and the erosion of terms and conditions.”
A new round of tube strikes is likely to irk businesses across the city, who depend on commuters travelling to high streets around London. The last strikes too place in June while industrial action in May was suspended after last-minute talks with TfL.
TfL and the mayor of London have been approached for comment.