London Underground workers will be going on strike from 18.30 Wednesday, 5th August till Friday, 7th August.
The strike was called in following a dispute amongst TSSA, RMT, Aslef and Unite unions and London Underground management over terms for the introduction of 24-hour train services on weekends from September – including the number of night shifts drivers and other staff will be made to work.
Finn Brennan, the London organiser for the drivers’ union Aslef, explained, “The main concern is the complete lack of firm commitments on work-life balance for train drivers… This leaves us with no other choice than to go ahead with strike action from Wednesday. We genuinely regret the disruption this will cause.”
RMT union, said it had rejected the offer based on the impact of the proposed night tube service on the tube network, without weekend downtime; saying that weekday commuters would pay a price for safety, reliability and quality.
TSSA union, said it had rejected the offer, not on the grounds of pay, but the work-life balance of its members, as well as safety issues.
Staff have been offered an average 2% salary increase this year and a 1% or RPI inflation rise, as well as extra payments to drivers working night tube shifts and additional bonus payments to all affected staff once the weekend service starts operating.
Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer London Underground, advised: “Our customers are advised to check the TfL website for the latest information as we seek to resolve the dispute and to keep London moving should the unions go ahead with their action.”
First Great Western will also be on strike. A normal service is due to run on London Overground and other National Rail lines.
Here’s a PSA on how Londoners got to work during a tube strike in 1962. How epic is the chap rollerskating to work? Other than that, it seems nothing else has changed…