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London Tube drivers to go on strike across three months as RMT union continues fight against four-day working week
Developing story first seen 29 minutes ago
Newly added coverage details the RMT’s objection to London Underground’s proposed voluntary four-day working week: the union says drivers could lose existing protections whether they choose four or five days. It says the changes may also increase driving time and make shifts less predictable, and is calling for the proposals to be withdrawn and negotiations to begin.
Eight 24-hour strikes are planned, starting at midday on 26 November, with further walkouts on 17 and 19 December, 4 and 6 January, and 17, 23 and 25 February. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey says drivers who reject the scheme could be moved from their depots; London Underground’s position is not included in the article.
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In short
- RMT says the proposed four-day week could weaken protections for all drivers.
- Eight 24-hour Tube strikes are scheduled from November to February.
- The union is urging London Underground to withdraw the plans and negotiate.
How this story developed
- 7 minutes ago London Underground drivers are set to hold eight 24-hour strikes over the coming months in a dispute about proposed working arrangements. The RMT says the plans linked to a four-day working week would weaken existing protections and could affect jobs and conditions.
- 7 minutes ago Newly added coverage details the RMT’s objection to London Underground’s proposed voluntary four-day working week: the union says drivers could lose existing protections whether they choose four or five days.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The RMT’s case is that a four-day week is not necessarily an improvement if it comes with longer, less predictable shifts and more time driving trains. Existing protections and conditions may help safeguard drivers’ wellbeing and jobs, so the union argues that London Underground should withdraw the proposals and negotiate changes before implementing them.
The case against
London Underground could argue that reorganising working patterns around a four-day week may offer drivers a more concentrated workweek and help the service operate effectively. Changes to shift lengths and scheduling may be needed to make that arrangement workable; the company may see negotiations, rather than strikes that disrupt passengers, as the appropriate way to address concerns while retaining the proposal.
Explained simply
The RMT is a trade union that represents many London Underground workers, including train drivers. London Underground is part of Transport for London, the public body responsible for the capital’s Tube network.
A four-day working week can mean arranging the same work across fewer days, but the details depend on the employer’s plan and any agreed safeguards. In this dispute, the union says the proposed arrangements could change drivers’ shifts, time spent driving and existing protections; those concerns are part of wider negotiations over working conditions and jobs.
The disagreement matters because changes to drivers’ schedules affect their working lives and can also disrupt Tube services for passengers. The outcome depends on discussions between the union and London Underground about how the proposed arrangements would work.
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