London Underground has made an urgent last-minute appeal for thousands of workers to call off planned strikes that will bring travel chaos to the capital next week. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), including drivers, signallers and maintenance workers, are set to launch industrial action over pay and conditions.
Transport for London (TfL) has warned passengers to expect few or no Tube services between Monday and Thursday, with some disruption starting on Sunday. The strikes represent the first Tube-wide industrial action in three years.
Pay dispute at centre of walkout
TfL has offered union members a 3.4% pay rise, which it describes as "fair" and without conditions attached. The RMT is demanding not only improved pay but also a reduction in the current 35-hour working week, which TfL says it cannot afford.
Nick Dent, London Underground's director of customer operations, said union demands for shorter working hours were "simply unaffordable" and would cost hundreds of millions of pounds. He urged the RMT to put TfL's pay offer to a ballot of its members.
"We have met four times in the past two weeks and we would welcome further talks," Dent said. "It is not too late to call off the strikes and put our offer to the RMT members."
Different strike pattern expected
This week's industrial action will differ from the last Tube-wide strike three years ago, which was over pay and pensions. Separate groups of workers will walk out on different days rather than all striking simultaneously.
"It will be very damaging for us," Dent added. Passengers have been advised to check before travelling, with any Tubes that do run expected to be significantly busier than usual, along with bus services.
Docklands Light Railway services will also face disruption on Tuesday and Thursday due to a separate RMT strike over pay affecting DLR workers.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
