London Underground users are being urged to plan for major disruption this week as strikes by RMT union staff escalate. Services will finish early on Sunday evening, and the Tube will be closed entirely from Monday until Friday 12 September.
The RMT union, representing around 10,000 workers, has rejected calls to call off the industrial action. The union is demanding a shorter working week as part of pay negotiations, but Transport for London (TfL) says a reduction from the current 35-hour week is not practical or affordable.
From Monday, almost no Tube trains will run. Other services such as the Elizabeth line, London Overground, National Rail, and buses will continue, but crowding and congestion are expected. Some central rail stations with Tube interchanges will be closed. The Docklands Light Railway will also not run on Tuesday or Thursday due to a separate dispute.
TfL has made a pay offer of 3.4%, which it says is fair and in line with inflation. However, the RMT argues that a shorter working week is affordable given TfL's £166m surplus last year. The last planned Tube strike in early 2024 was called off after the mayor provided extra funding for pay rises.
The strikes are expected to cost the UK economy over £230m, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Bus drivers for First Bus in west London are also set to strike for three days from Friday.
