TfL Tube strikes: RMT announces week of rolling strikes with widespread disruption

A week of industrial action will cause widespread disruption in the last week of July.

RMT members will stage a week of walkouts from July 23 in a row over pensions, job cuts and working conditions.

Different grades and sections of the tube will take strike action from Sunday 23 July until Friday 28 July.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union has been in a long running dispute with Transport for London (TfL) over jobs, cuts, and attacks on pensions and working conditions.

Around 600 jobs are scheduled to be axed, and the union says London Underground staff stand to be poorer in retirement if TfL’s proposed changes go through.

The RMT said in a statement that the job losses planned will affect every aspect of the tube including stations and maintenance, leading to the likelihood of more unstaffed stations and a lowering of safety standards. It said there are also planned attacks on tube drivers working agreements and jobs.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This week of action will shut down the London Underground and show just how important the work of our members is.

“Plans by TfL to cut 600 jobs and attack our members’ pensions are simply unacceptable.

“We are aware that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has had the TfL budget cut.

“However, he needs to align himself with our union and his London Underground staff in pushing back against the Tory government, exposing their damaging agenda to a key part of London transport infrastructure.”

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We are disappointed that the RMT has announced strike action on this range of issues that we have been attempting to discuss with them openly and cooperatively. We are urging the union to reconsider and engage with us to discuss the issues and seek a resolution.

“There are no current proposals to change pension arrangements and, although we are discussing with union colleagues a range of proposals to improve how London Underground operates, no employee will lose their job or be asked to work additional hours.

“We are trying to create a fairer, more efficient London Underground that works for our staff and for London. All stations would remain well staffed at all times and we believe that our proposals would give an even better and more reliable service to our customers both in terms of our stations and our train services.”