Warning Given To Tube Users Over Looming Strike
Talks between RMT and management over Monday's action break down
Most stations in Zone 1 expected to be closed
TfL has detailed some of the disruption likely due to the RMT strike planned for the Monday after the Jubilee Holiday (6 June) and issued advice to passengers after talks to end the dispute break down.
It expects severe disruption all day Monday and through to 8am on Tuesday 7 June with only a limited number of stations open. Those stations that can be opened may only open for limited periods and the situation is likely to change throughout the day depending on whether TfL has enough staff. Passengers are advised not to travel on Monday or early on Tuesday.
The RMT is also commencing industrial action short of a strike from Friday (3 June) until 10 July which may impact some journeys. TfL is planning to run services and keep stations open over the Platinum Jubilee weekend. The action is an overtime ban which means that some tube stations might close at short notice. Other modes of transport, including buses, London Overground, Trams, and the Elizabeth line will be running as normal, though services could be busier.
The newly opened Elizabeth line will run over the Jubilee weekend, with a special service operating on Sunday 5 June from approximately 8:00am – 10pm.
TfL met the RMT union at the conciliation service ACAS during the week and remains open to further talks. TfL says that it is required to speed up it pre-pandemic savings programme by the government which wants it to achieve financial sustainability on its operations by April 2023
As part of this, TfL says it has been engaging with its trade unions and staff to seek their views on how it can make London Underground more efficient and financially sustainable without compromising safety, reliability and passenger service. TfL says it has committed to its staff and trade unions that the safety of staff and customers will always remain paramount and the proposed changes to these roles will not result in job losses.
The RMT says that management is not interested in trying to settle the dispute in the talks at ACAS and is demanding direct dialogue with the Mayor.
General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "We are demanding a direct face to face meeting with Mayor Sadiq Khan to sort this mess out.
"There’s no point in our union continuing to sit opposite management representatives who have neither the inclination nor the authority to negotiate a settlement, when the power lies with the Mayor.
"The Mayor of London has tax-raising powers. Just four banks made a profit of £34bn last year and are set to pay out over £4bn in bonuses to London traders. A windfall tax on those profits would more than adequately fund London’s transport network.
"Mayor Khan must choose either the take on the Tory government and demand a just funding deal for Londoners or attack loyal tube workers who keep the capital moving day in day out.
Andy Lord, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re determined to make sure that people are able to travel around London and enjoy the Jubilee weekend, which is why we’re planning to run services across all transport modes and hope to keep all stations open. Action short of a strike being taken by the RMT may lead to some short notice station closures, so I’d encourage people to check their journeys before they travel.
“I want to apologise to our customers for the RMT’s disappointing strike action on Monday 6 June, which will have a significant impact on the Tube network and we advise people to only travel if necessary on this day, as many stations may be closed. Alternatives to the Tube, including the bus and rail networks, are likely to be much busier than usual. We expect the severe disruption caused by this strike to continue into the morning of Tuesday 7 June and I’m sorry for the impact this will have on people’s journeys next week.
“This strike is particularly frustrating as no changes have been proposed to pensions and nobody has or will lose their job as a result of the proposals we have set out. We’re urging the RMT to call off this strike and to work with us to find a resolution and avoid the disruption this strike will cause to people’s journeys and to the economy.”
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June 3, 2022