Tube strikes 2023: TfL London Underground station staff to stage two days of walkouts in October

Thousands of London Underground station workers will strike for two days in October, the RMT union has announced.

RMT members will walkout on October 4 and 6 over job losses and safety concerns.

The industrial action on October 4 coincides with a planned strike by Aslef members and with the end of the Tory party conference in Manchester.

The union says it has been locked in a long running dispute over 600 station staff cuts and “detrimental” working conditions since last year.

Safety concerns have also been raised regarding fewer staff facing higher workloads, more lone working and increased fatigue.

The union says 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.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Station staff have had enough of having their livelihoods threatened by job losses and attacks on their terms and conditions.

“Station staff have a vital role to play assisting vulnerable passengers access the network safely and ensuring that the tube is a safe environment for passengers.

“These job cuts and attacks on conditions are going to lead to more unstaffed stations, temporary closures and rising passenger anger.

“TfL has had its budgets slashed but the savings made by these station staff cuts will be negatable and will lead to shortages that are unacceptable.

“This strike action will lead to the tube being shutdown and we call on Mayor Sadiq Khan to meet us urgently to discuss this matter.”

The union said more than 3,500 of its members are involved in the dispute.

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We are disappointed that the RMT has announced strike action despite our open discussion on these issues. Nobody wants to see strikes that will cause significant disruption to our customers and we urge them to reconsider and continue engaging with us.”