London Underground workers will go on strike next month over a pay dispute, two unions have announced.
Strikes will take place from November 1 to 16 after members of Aslef, the train drivers' union, and RMT, which represents most remaining Tube workers, rejected a wage offer from Transport for London (TfL).
London Underground drivers, instructors, managers and engineers who are members of Aslef will go on strike for four days from November 1 to 16.
They will also not work overtime on different days, depending on their profession.
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Maintenance and engineering staff, controllers, lifeguards, signalmen and fleet and engineering staff who are members of the RMT trade union will also go on strike on various days from November 1 to 8.
• Engineer drivers and maintenance workers will go on strike on November 1 and 2 – without overtime until November 8
• Track access controllers and control center employees will go on strike from 18:59 on November 3 to 18:59 on November 4
• On November 4, Emergency Response Unit staff will be on strike all day long
• On November 5, fleet, engineering, station and train workers will go on strike all day
• On November 6, signallers and service controllers will go on strike all day long
• Train drivers, instructors and managers will go on strike on November 7 and 12
• Managers will not work overtime on November 3 and 16
• On November 1 and 8, engineering drivers will be prohibited from working overtime.
Asle members voted overwhelmingly in favor of this action, with 98.8% wanting a strike, with a turnout of 68%.
Finn Brennan, organizer of London Underground Aslef, said: “We don't want to go on strike – we don't want to hinder passengers traveling in and around the capital and we don't want to lose a single day's wages – but we have been forced to take this stand because London Underground management have not sat down correctly and negotiated with us.”
He said Transport for London's (TfL) pay offer of 3.8% plus a variable flat rate “means Tube drivers will work longer hours on lower pay than drivers on other TfL services”.
He added that metro drivers will also receive a lower raise than other metro employees.
Aslef said TfL management had refused to discuss key issues including shortening the working week and introducing paid meals to bring drivers in line with those working on the Elizabeth Line and London Overground.
London's roads clog during tube strikes and buses are often overcrowded. Photo: PA
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said TfL's pay offer “does not match what our members deserve” and would push staff into pay bands set solely by management, which “undermines the rights of our members and the fundamental principles of fair negotiations”.
“No trade union can accept a salary proposal where management decides which of our members will and will not receive a raise,” he added.
“We remain open to negotiations, but London Underground must return to talks with a comprehensive, consolidated offer that respects the rights of all our members. Until then, our industrial action will continue as planned.”
A spokesman for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “No one wants to see a strike or disruption for Londoners.
“The Mayor urges Aslef and TfL to work together to avoid this industrial action.”
Tube strikes have become a part of life in the capital, with commuters and tourists forced to use buses and taxis, cycle, walk or drive during strikes, often bringing traffic to a standstill in London.
The most recent strikes occurred in January, when RMT members went on strike for five days over a 5% below-inflation pay rise.
