Tube strike - live: London underground walkout cancelled after last minute TfL talks

RMT have cancelled strike action across Tube lines this week

Strikes by London Underground workers suspended

Strikes by London Underground workers which would have crippled Tube services this week have been suspended, the RMT union has announced.

The union have suspended their planned tube strike this week following talks with TfL.

Planned action from Monday to Thursday will no longer go ahead after RMT made progress in discussions with TfL today.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available.

“This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting into urgent negotiations with TfL in order to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute.”

Londoners faced “little to no” service on Tube lines as strike action was set to cause severe travel disruption in the capital.

Transport for London (TfL) has advised customers who must travel on the London underground to complete their journeys by 5.30pm on Sunday as industrial action by striking tube workers was due to begin.

Key Points

• ‘Crippling’ London tube strikes called off at last minute
• Tube strikes: What is the dispute between RMT union and TfL?
• Major rail disruption between Paddington and Reading

[7 January 2024 15:05 · Barney Davis]

UK Hospitality has warned the strike is expected to cost the sector up to £50m

UK Hospitality Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls, warned that the RMT strike could hit hospitality businesses by up to £50m over the next week.

“With the strike days affecting Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week (9-11 January) – the key week days that commuters now come into the city – we estimate that the impact to the sector from next week’s tube strike could be up to £50 million,” she said.

“And that figure is on top of the lost £4 billion in sales over the past 18 months that hospitality businesses have already had to absorb from ongoing transport strikes.

“January is already one of the quieter trading months of the year for hospitality, where every sale counts, and this disruption will make the start to the year even more challenging.

“We need all parties to come together to urgently reach a resolution and bring to an end this long-running disruption.”

[7 January 2024 14:33 · Barney Davis]

Trade minister calls Sadiq Khan ‘feeble' ahead of new RMT strikes

Sadiq Khan has been accused of failing to use strike-busting minimum service legislation on TfL services as a fresh wave of walkouts.

Greg Hands, local MP for Chelsea and Fulham, posted on X: “Mayor Khan is feeble. 140 Tube strikes with him as Mayor. And he won’t use the Government’s new legislation to provide a minimum service on the Tube.

“And he promised us ‘zero days of public transport strikes’ to get elected in 2016.

“It’s time for a new Mayor.”

New regulations are aimed at ensuring a minimum level of services during strikes, starting in sectors including the railways and the Border Force before being more widely introduced.

The Government brought forward the new law following 18 months of strikes by hundreds of thousands of workers including nurses, teachers, junior doctors, civil servants and train drivers.

(PA)

[7 January 2024 14:00 · Barney Davis]

10,000 RMT workers to walkout over the next week

London Underground workers are taking strike action, over pay, grading structures and travel facilities, the RMT has said.

Control staff will strike on Sunday for 24 hours and from Monday to Wednesday nearly 10,000 RMT members will strike across the Tube.

An RMT spokesperson said: “TfL has failed to avert this strike by not offering a deal that was acceptable to our members on London Underground.

“We do not take strike action lightly but we are determined to get a negotiated settlement on pay, travel facilities and a grading structure that means our members will not lose out.”

Union man: Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, in his office at the union’s HQ (Simon Calder)

[7 January 2024 13:51 · Barney Davis]

RMT demanding a ‘modest pay rise’ after rejecting 5% increase

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has urged people to join them on the picket line at Kings Cross on Monday morning as travel chaos is expected.

The walkout comes after last-ditch talks failed over a pay increase.

Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said he was disappointed the RMT had refused a 5% wage increase offer.

[7 January 2024 13:04 · Barney Davis]

TfL warns all tube passengers to complete journeys by 5.30pm

Transport for London has warned of disruption across the entire tube network as RMT members walk out on Sunday afternoon.

TfL outlined a timetable for the strikes

• Sunday 7 January: Tube services will close earlier than normal. Complete Tube journeys by 5.30
• Monday 8 to Thursday 11 January: Severe disruption is expected, with little to no service expected to run
• Friday 12 January: Tube services will start later than normal, with a good service expected by midday

No other TfL services will be on strike.

A spokesman said: “Some bus, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and national rail services will be busier. They may also be subject to change or affected by station closures where stations also serve London Underground lines.”