Bakerloo line strike: Walkout to disrupt Boxing Day services

The RMT union had confirmed two days of industrial action

Bakerloo line services will be disrupted this festive period (Getty Images)

Bakerloo Line staff will strike on Boxing Day, further disrupting Christmas travel.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) who work at key Bakerloo Line stations will walkout from 5am to 11.01pm on Wednesday 26 December. The action applies to all union members who work at Charing Cross, Elephant & Castle, Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus.

The Bakerloo Line strike follows the planned Central Line strike, which is due to take place on 21 and 22 December. A further Bakerloo strike is scheduled from 10.29pm on Sunday 13 January to 10.29pm on Monday 14 January.

In addition, members are being told to refuse to familiarise staff who would not normally work at their station, including ambassadors, from 11.02pm on Wednesday 26 December 2018 until further notice.

Staff are striking due to London Underground’s alleged failure to ensure sufficient shift coverage, which “creates undue stress on staff and puts all members and the travelling public at increased risk,” RMT said in a statement.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members are rightly angry that staffing levels on the Bakerloo Line have been hacked back to the bone presenting a serious danger to staff and passengers alike.

“Previous commitments to ensure safe staffing coverage have been flouted and in order to press the company to address the issues we have no option but to announce a programme of action.

“The union remains available for serious and genuine talks.”

Brian Woodhead, London Underground’s director for customer service, said of the strike: “This action is entirely unjustified. We have adhered to all the commitments that we have made on staffing numbers across the network, and upheld the agreements made with unions as recently as last year.

“We call on them to withdraw this action, which will only cause unnecessary disruption for customers during the festive period, and to work with us to resolve this dispute without strike action.”