TfL Tube strikes: Aslef London Underground train drivers to strike on two days in July

London Underground Tube drivers will be joining colleagues from a separate union in two coordinated days of strikes at the end of July.

Members of Aslef, which represents 96% of Britain’s train drivers, are set to stage walkouts on July 26 and July 28 due to a dispute over pensions, job cuts and working conditions.

The two days fall within the week-long strike action planned by RMT London Underground members, from July 23 until July 28, and is expected to result in widespread disruption across the capital’s transport network.

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on the London Underground, said members are at-risk of being impacted by a new attendance procedure removing the right to representation or appeal at stage one of a disciplinary process, and “trains modernisation”, which will result in unrestricted remote booking, driving shifts up to 10 hours long, and introducing “flexible cover” weeks in rosters.

“Their aim is an entirely flexible workforce with all existing agreements replaced – allowing them to cut hundreds more jobs and forcing those of us who remain to work harder for longer,” he said.

“To protect our pensions, working conditions, and agreements, our members are ready to act. Management need to realise that we will not just allow them to use the pandemic and government funding agreements to undermine everything we have achieved in the past.”

The union has previously announced members will take part in an overtime ban at 16 train companies later this month, as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.

Glynn Barton, Transport for London’s (TfL) chief operating officer, said: “We are disappointed that ASLEF has announced strike action which will coincide with the action already announced by the RMT. We are urging both unions to reconsider this action 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.”