Tube Strikes July 2023: Full list of dates and disruption on London Underground

Commuters are braced for travel chaos as London Underground workers from three different unions are set to take part in a series of strikes at the end of July.

This is part of a long running dispute with Transport for London (TfL) over pensions, job cuts and working conditions.

The strikes are set to take place on the first week of the school holidays, causing serious disruption to Londoners and tourists alike.

What dates are the Tube strikes?

The RMT is planning five days of strikes on the London Underground at the end of the month. These will be on Sunday July 23, Tuesday July 25, Wednesday July 26, Thursday July 27 and Friday July 28.

There will be no strike on Monday July 23, but there is usually disruption to the network on the days before and following a strike.

Aslef and Unite members will also strike on Wednesday July 26 and Friday July 28.

Which lines will be affected?

More than 10,000 workers are eligible to strike but the strikes will affect different sections of the Tube network and grades of workers on different days.

It is not yet clear which lines will be affected on different days.

It is likely there will be network-wide shutdowns on Wednesday July 26 and Friday July 28, with all three unions striking.

What are the unions saying?

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."

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “We take action only when needed. Unfortunately, the last few weeks have shown that London Underground management are determined to try to push through detrimental changes – despite trade union opposition – if they think they can get away with it.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite members on the London Underground will not accept attacks on their pensions and jobs.

“The workers are rightly demanding copper bottomed guarantees from TfL. Without these solid guarantees strike action will continue and the workers have Unite’s complete support.”

Unite represents around 450 members on the London Underground including workers in engineering, maintenance and management.

How has Transport for London responded?

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We are disappointed that Unite has announced strike action which will coincide with the action already announced by the RMT and Aslef. 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.”

How has the mayor of London responded?

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told LondonWorld: “I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work transport workers do day in and day out.

“Unfortunately because of the strings attached by the government in the emergency funding that they gave us, one of the strings attached was around pension reform.

“I understand why transport workers are worried about their pensions being reformed, but we’ve not agreed to any changes on people’s pensions.

“What I’d encourage the RMT, Aslef and others concerned to do is sit around the table with TfL at ACAS.

“I’m hoping those talks will lead to the strikes being called off.”

The RMT has said that 20,000 rail workers across the UK are also to strike in July.

Aslef train drivers have started a further overtime ban this week (Monday July 17 to Saturday July 22) while RMT members will walkout on Thursday July 20, Saturday July 22 and Saturday July 29.