More Tube Strikes Planned in November
Both ASLEF and the RMT announce industrial action over pay
Hope remains that talks will lead to a resolution of both disputes
October 17, 2024
Further disruption on London Underground due to strikes looks possible after the two largest unions on the network announced plans for industrial action.
ASLEF has said that train drivers and management grade staff are going to strike on Thursday 7 and Tuesday 12 November, and those in the engineering section for 24 hours from 6pm on 1 November.
Other groups of staff will also not be working any overtime at various times in November.
The dispute is over pay differentials with the union saying that the current offer of a 3.8% increase plus a variable lump sum would leave London Underground staff on lower rates than those working for London Overground and on the Elizabeth line.
The strike was called after 98.8% of members voted in favour on a turnout of 68%
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has also announced industrial action by its members next month.
Transport for London (TfL) described the strike announcements as "disappointing" but added that it remained engaged with the unions.
This is disputed by Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s full-time organiser on London Underground, who said, "We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because [London Underground] management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us."
RMT members including maintenance, signalling and station staff, will not be reporting for work on various days between 1 and 8 November with 10,000 staff involved in the dispute.
The union says that, despite some progress being made in negotiations, the offer on the table is ‘wholly inadequate’ and leaves a large number of staff excluded from collective bargaining.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said, "London Underground's pay offer falls short of what our members deserve. It threatens to remove collective bargaining for a growing portion of staff, pushing them into pay bands that are decided solely by management. This undermines our members' rights and the core principles of fair negotiation.
"No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management decide which of our members gets a pay rise and those who do not."
A TfL spokesperson said, "We have held several constructive discussions with our trade unions and, after considering their feedback, have made a revised offer with an average uplift of 4.6%, which rewards our staff for their hard work and benefits the lowest-paid staff the most."
"Our offer is fair for our people and affordable for London, and we urge our unions to continue working with us to support London and the wider economy.”
Talks over pay continue with hopes on both sides that a resolution can be reached before the industrial action goes ahead. If not then the strike by ASLEF drivers is likely to be the most disruptive with no services on the days they are not reporting for work and reduced services the following day.
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