RMT Tube Drivers Plan Strikes Over Working Hours

London Underground drivers represented by the RMT union are set to launch a series of 24-hour strikes starting next week, disrupting services across the network in a dispute over proposed changes to working hours. The action, affecting approximately 1,800 members, begins at midday on April 21 and April 23, with additional strikes planned for May 19, May 21, June 16, and June 18. All strikes will run until midday the following day, though Transport for London officials warn that disruptions could extend into the afternoons and evenings.

The walkouts stem from RMT's opposition to London Underground's plan to introduce a four-day working week for train drivers on the Bakerloo line, compressing the current 35- to 36-hour week into longer shifts without reducing total paid hours. Union members rejected the proposal in a referendum, citing risks to fatigue, safety, and work-life balance, including concerns over extended shift lengths of up to eight hours and 45 minutes, transfer processes, and allocation arrangements. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey stated, "London Underground is trying to force through major changes to working patterns that have already been rejected by our...