The RMT union has confirmed that strikes by London Underground drivers will proceed next week, raising the prospect of further transport chaos in the capital. Two 24-hour stoppages are scheduled from 00:01 to 23:59 on Tuesday 2 June and Thursday 4 June, stemming from a dispute over proposals for a compressed four-day working week.
Union Concerns Over Safety and Fatigue
An RMT spokesperson stated: “Strike action by London Underground drivers next week is scheduled to go ahead following TfL’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully with the union’s concerns over the proposed compressed four-day working arrangements. Our members have raised serious concerns around fatigue, longer shifts, reduced flexibility and the impact these proposals could have in a safety-critical role.”
TfL Response and Service Expectations
Transport for London (TfL) has indicated that services on most tube lines are expected to run during the strike, but commuters should anticipate disruption. Other services such as the Elizabeth line, London Overground, DLR, and tram will operate as scheduled, though they are likely to be busier than usual. TfL emphasised that its four-day week proposal would be trialled on a voluntary basis and has been endorsed by the Aslef union, which represents a slight majority of tube drivers.
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, expressed disappointment at the RMT’s continued industrial action. “We still believe that the points they have raised can be worked out in time, through more detailed discussions and we are continuing to talk to the union’s representatives to find a way to avoid disruption to London,” she said. She urged the RMT to collaborate, adding that a significant number of drivers support progressing the pilot on the Bakerloo line, which would benefit both staff and customers.
Background of the Dispute
The RMT’s opposition to the voluntary four-day week has already sparked industrial action, most recently in April. Hopes for a resolution briefly rose when the RMT called off a two-day strike planned for mid-May at the last minute. However, the union simultaneously moved forward strikes from 16 and 18 June to 2 and 4 June, signalling that the dispute remains unresolved and that further action may follow if insufficient progress is made.
The RMT stated it remains “available for meaningful talks” with TfL but cautioned London Underground against implementing changes to drivers’ working conditions while refusing to address legitimate safety and workplace concerns. Previous waves of industrial action over the four-day week have garnered little public sympathy and puzzled Aslef, which views the proposal as a significant improvement in working conditions for tube drivers.
