London Underground workers in Aslef and RMT vote to strike next month

London Underground drivers will walk out next month, bringing chaos to the capital in a protest over pay and working conditions. 

Members of the Aslef union voted overwhelmingly to walk out on a number of dates in November, before RMT members backed strikes shortly after.

Train operators and management grades will not work on 7 and 12 November, while there is an overtime ban in place on Sunday 3 November and Saturday 16 November.

Aslef also said engineering drivers will not work from late on Friday 1 November to Saturday night, with an overtime ban also. 

The union said Tube train drivers in the union-backed strikes by 98.8 per cent, with a turnout of 68 per cent. 

Shortly after Aslef voted to strike, the RMT union backed walkouts also.

The union said the fresh strike came after “rejecting a pay offer deemed wholly inadequate.” It added that while “progress was made in negotiations, the current proposal leaves a large number of staff excluded”.

RMT said its walkouts will begin on 1 November, with engineering and maintenance staff striking from 6pm until the next day, with no overtime until 8 November.

Track, control centre and power staff will strike on 3-4 November from 7pm, while emergency response staff will walk out at midnight on 4 November also.

RMT added that other staff members will strike from midnight on 5 November, with signallers striking from 6-8 November.

The union said 55.48 of votes were cast out of those eligible, with 96.41 per cent backing yes.

This comes amid an improving economic picture, with inflation falling below the Bank of England’s two per cent target this morning, to 1.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, other London Underground workers are being balloted on Tube strikes over pay and conditions amid a dispute with TfL.

Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) in jobs including customer service and advising passengers in stations are being asked if they want to strike, with the ballot closing on 18 October.

TfL and Unions urged to avoid strike

Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said the strikes were because Transport for London bosses were still “refusing to even discuss key elements of our claim”.

“We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because LU management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.”

He said the strike was called six months after a date was agreed for a pay agreement to be set.

Underground management “refuse to discuss any reduction in the working week or introducing paid meal relief to bring Underground drivers in line with those on the Elizebeth line and London Overground.

The pay offer of 3.8 per cent, plus a variable lump sum, means Underground drivers will stay on a lower salary than drivers on other TfL services while working longer hours.

He also said the deal “means driving grades will receive a lower pay rise than other grades.”

Underground management insists that any changes to pay ranges will be entirely at management discretion – effectively removing the union’s right to negotiate for our members in future. And management still refuses to commit to making changes to working arrangements and conditions, including pensions, only through agreement.”

Aslef said its members had been “‘extremely patient as talks have dragged on – with no real progress – for months on end.”

Sadly, it is clear, once again, that Underground management will only get serious about reaching a settlement if there is the prospect of strike action.”

Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “London Underground’s pay offer falls short of what our members deserve. It threatens to remove collective bargaining for a growing portion of staff, pushing them into pay bands that are decided solely by management. This undermines our members’ rights and the core principles of fair negotiation.

“No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management decide which of our members gets a pay rise and those who do not.

“We have repeatedly urged London Underground to offer a deal that ensures all staff are covered by collective bargaining, yet management remains fixated on imposing pay structures without our agreement.

“Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action to defend their terms and conditions.

“We remain open to negotiations, but London Underground must come back to the table with a comprehensive, consolidated offer that respects the rights of all our members. Until then, our industrial action will continue as planned.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “Nobody wants to see strike action or disruption for Londoners.

The Mayor urges ASLEF and TfL to work together to avoid this industrial action.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that ASLEF and the RMT have announced industrial action following our recent discussions over pay, terms and conditions.”

We have held several constructive discussions with our trade unions and, after considering their feedback, have made a revised offer with an average uplift of 4.6 per cent, which rewards our staff for their hard work and benefits the lowest-paid staff the most.”

We are engaging with our unions in good faith, having increased our offer since talks began, and have invited our unions to meet again next week. Our offer is fair for our people and affordable for London, and we urge our unions to continue working with us to support London and the wider economy.”

Strikes will cause “needless disruption”

Retail bodies reacted with frustration to the strikes, with  BusinessLDN Deputy Chief Executive Muniya Barua, saying:  “Just as we’re trying to send a strong message to investors that London is open for business, the announcement of fresh tube strikes will cause needless disruption to businesses, Londoners and visitors.

“If these walkouts go ahead in the run up to Christmas, it will be particularly damaging for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

“We urge all parties to find a way forward which avoids damaging industrial action.” 

Meanwhile, Ruth Duston, chief executive of London HQ and the MD of Primera Corp, said: “The strikes announced by RMT and Aslef will have a devastating impact on London’s retail and hospitality businesses, at a time when the sectors rely on footfall the most. Lasting for effectively two weeks and coinciding with the festive build up when tourists, shoppers and workers are expected to frequent the capital, the strikes will effectively leave the city in limbo.”

“We urge the RMT, Aslef and TfL to find a resolution and avoid disrupting the commute of millions of customers.”