Commuters faced severe disruption on Tuesday as thousands of tube workers staged a 24-hour strike over Transport for London (TfL) spending cuts. The entire Underground was suspended during the morning rush hour, with limited services resuming later on a few lines. Many passengers were unable to reach their workplaces, leading to long queues for buses and taxis, and some were forced to abandon their journeys.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union organised the walkout, claiming members were 'solidly supporting' the action with picket lines outside stations. A further 24-hour strike is planned for Thursday, with knock-on effects expected on Wednesday and Friday. The union fears that spending cuts will result in hundreds of job losses, reduced pensions, and worsened working conditions.
TfL, however, stated that no jobs would be lost and no changes to pensions or terms and conditions had been proposed. Chief operating officer Andy Lord said the action was 'completely unnecessary' and encouraged people to work from home on strike days. Extra buses were provided to help key workers travel, though he acknowledged some inconvenience.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch blamed Mayor Sadiq Khan for not standing up to government ministers, saying the strike was a response to a 'turf war between City Hall and the government'. A spokesperson for Khan expressed concern about the disruption, urging unions to negotiate and highlighting the financial strain on TfL due to the pandemic.
Separately, train services in southern England were disrupted by a power supply failure in Ashtead, Surrey. The strike also coincided with rail fare rises averaging 4.8%, adding to passenger misery.
