Tube workers in London are set to strike for the first half of November in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
The strikes will take place from 1 to 16 November after members of both ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, and the RMT, representing most other Tube workers, rejected a pay offer from Transport for London (TfL).
London Underground drivers, instructors, managers, and engineers who are ASLEF members will strike across four days between 1 and 16 November.
They will also not work any overtime on different days, depending on their jobs.
Here are the dates where disruption is expected:
1 November
Engineering drivers from both ASLEF and RMT will strike for 24 hours from 6pm, along with maintenance staff from RMT.
There will also be a ban on overtime for all of these ASLEF and RMT staff from now until 8 November.
2 November
Engineering drivers and maintenance staff continue to strike until 5.59pm, and their overtime ban continues.
3 November
RMT track access controllers, control centre staff and power/control staff will strike from 6.59am.
Engineering drivers and maintenance staff overtime ban continues.
ASLEF managers will not work any overtime from the start of 3 November until 16 November.
4 November
RMT emergency response unit staff will strike all day.
RMT track access controllers, control centre staff and power/control staff end strike at 6.59am.
Engineering drivers and maintenance staff overtime ban continues.
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
5 November
RMT fleet, engineering, stations and train staff will strike all day.
Engineering drivers and maintenance staff overtime ban continues.
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
6 November
RMT signallers and service controllers will strike all day.
Engineering drivers and maintenance staff overtime ban continues.
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
7 November
ASLEF train operators, instructors and managers to strike all day.
RMT fleet, engineering, stations and train staff will strike all day.
Engineering drivers and maintenance staff overtime ban continues.
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
8 November
RMT signallers and service controllers will strike all day.
Engineering drivers and maintenance staff overtime ban continues until 11.59pm.
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
9 November
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
10 November
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
11 November
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
12 November
ASLEF train operators, instructors and management grades to strike all day.
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
13 November
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
14 November
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
15 November
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues.
16 November
ASLEF manager overtime ban continues until 11.59pm.
What lines will be affected and how can I stay in the loop?
TfL has not specified which lines will be affected, only saying to expect “severe disruption” on some days if the strikes go ahead.
It advises planning ahead before you travel by using its journey planner and status update page.
What have ASLEF and RMT said?
ASLEF members voted overwhelmingly for the action, with 98.8% wanting strike action, with a 68% turnout.
Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s London Underground organiser, said: “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 London Underground management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.”
He said Transport for London’s (TfL) pay offer of 3.8% plus a variable lump sum “means Underground drivers will stay on a lower salary than drivers on other TfL services while working longer hours”.
ASLEF said TfL management has refused to discuss key issues, including reducing the working week and introducing paid meal times to bring drivers in line with those working on the Elizabeth line and London Overground.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “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 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.”
What has TfL said?
A TfL spokesperson said: “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% 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.”
A spokesman for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The mayor urges ASLEF and TfL to work together to avoid this industrial action.”
