Govind Tekale
London commuters face major travel disruption as the RMT union announces seven days of rolling Underground strikes starting Friday, September 5, through Thursday, September 11.
Transport for London (TfL) warns the entire Underground network will be “severely disrupted” from Sunday, September 7, to Thursday, September 11, with little to no service expected on most strike days. Crucially for morning commuters, no Tube services will run before 8:00 AM on weekdays during the action.
The strikes involve different job categories walking out on different days, creating a rolling pattern of disruption. On Sunday, Track Access Controllers and Emergency Response Unit members will strike. Monday and Wednesday will see Fleet, Engineering, Stations, and Trains staff walk out, while Tuesday and Thursday involve Signallers and Service Control teams.
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In a separate dispute, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will see no service on Tuesday, September 9, and Thursday, September 11.
Eddie Dempsey, RMT General Secretary, explained the strike reasons: “Our members work strenuous shift patterns to make sure Londoners get to their destinations around the clock. Fatigue and extreme shift rotations are serious issues impacting our members’ health and well-being.”
The dispute centers on several key issues: pay demands, fatigue management, extreme shift patterns, a shorter working week, and alleged breaches of previous agreements. According to an FOI request, Tube drivers currently earn between £65,179 (standard operators) and £75,677 (advanced operators) annually, working around 35 hours weekly over approximately three and a half shifts.
TfL has offered a 3.4% pay increase but maintains that reducing the contractual 35-hour week is “neither practical nor affordable.”
For travelers, the Elizabeth line, London Overground, and trams will continue running but are expected to be “extremely busy” and may skip stations or implement crowd control measures. Airport travelers should plan alternative routes, with the Elizabeth line to Heathrow likely to face heavy crowding.
The strikes have already impacted events in the capital, with Coldplay rescheduling their Wembley Stadium concerts due to the planned action. TfL’s spokesperson urged continued engagement: “We regularly meet with our trade unions to discuss concerns. We are committed to ensuring our colleagues are treated fairly and have made progress on several commitments.”
