The party is over! Misery for Londoners as unions stage 24-HOUR Tube strike until 8am tomorrow

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Tube stations across London will remain closed due to strike action today, creating commuting misery for millions of workers as they try to return to their desks following the four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend. 

London Underground advised people not to travel, warning of severe disruption across the network from the start of service on Monday and lasting until 8am on Tuesday.

Fed-up commuters were seen forming long queues at bus stops under grey skies and rain, while traffic began to build on the city’s road networks. 

Fuming workers blasted the strikes on social media, with one declaring: ‘We are in hell’, while others said they had simply ‘had enough’ of being ‘held to ransom’ by militant unions. 

The chaos has been caused by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), who are taking industrial action in a dispute over jobs and pensions.

And today’s action could just be the start of a feared ‘summer of discontent’, after unions recently threatened a national rail strike, which would see Network Rail forced to operate on a skeleton timetable to reserve tracks for the movement of goods – with passengers only having access to key services.

Civil servants have also threatened national strike action that could bring disruption to key infrastructure such as ports, courts and airports, after being offered a 2 per cent pay rise, which they deemed as insufficient amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Transport for London (TfL) warned on Monday that some train services will run but many stations, especially those in central and south London, will be closed, while others may only open for limited periods.

Other TfL services, including DLR, London Overground and Trams, are not affected by the industrial action and will be running but will be busier. 

The Elizabeth Line is also running as normal with TfL reporting a ‘good service’.  

TfL said no proposals have been tabled on pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody will lose their jobs because of the proposals it has set out.

As part of previous funding agreements, the Government has required TfL to work towards achieving financial sustainability on its operations by April 2023.

TfL has proposed not recruiting into around 500 to 600 posts as they become vacant.

Today’s strike comes despite London Underground workers receiving an 8.4 per cent pay rise in April. 

While inflation is currently at 9 per cent, a four-year deal with unions guarantees 15,000 Tube workers an annual pay increase of RPI+0.2%, costing TfL £100m, reports the BBC. 

Meanwhile NHS workers and teachers are seeing their spending power at lows not seen for 20 years, as pay struggles to keep up with the soaring cost of living.

Andy Lord, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: ‘I’d like to apologise to London for the impact this strike will have on journeys.

‘We know it’s going to be damaging to London and the economy, at a time when public transport is playing a crucial role in the capital’s recovery.

‘While our focus is always on helping everyone travel around London whenever they want, the expected impact of the RMT’s action means we have to advise people to only travel if necessary, as many stations may be closed.

‘Alternatives to the Tube, including the bus and rail networks, are likely to be much busier than usual and we expect the severe disruption caused by this strike to continue into the morning of Tuesday June 7.

‘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.

‘Working with us to find a resolution is the best course of action, avoiding the disruption this strike will cause to Londoners and the economy.’

The RMT said that, under current proposals, 600 jobs will be lost, working agreements will be torn up and the looming threat to pensions remains in place.

 

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.’

Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce said: ‘We are extremely disappointed that the RMT has called for a mass walkout by TfL workers in such close proximity to the Queen’s Jubilee Weekend when London will be full of visitors.

‘The last two years hit London disproportionately hard and the capital is desperately trying to claw back some sense of normality after a tumultuous two years.

‘This strike now puts TfL in a position of having to recommend that Londoners work from home.

‘Ultimately, this will only harm London’s economy and it is time for TfL to sort out their dispute with the RMT so we can get back to building prosperity and showing the world that London is open business.’

RMT members on the Tube are also taking action short of a strike, meaning station staff might not work overtime, until Sunday July 10, which may result in short notice station closures.

Business leaders today criticised the latest strike action, saying it would only ‘harm London’s economy.’ 

Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce said: ‘We are extremely disappointed that the RMT has called for a mass walkout by TfL workers in such close proximity to the Queen’s Jubilee Weekend when London will be full of visitors.

‘The last two years hit London disproportionately hard and the capital is desperately trying to claw back some sense of normality after a tumultuous two years.

‘This strike now puts TfL in a position of having to recommend that Londoners work from home.

‘Ultimately, this will only harm London’s economy and it is time for TfL to sort out their dispute with the RMT so we can get back to building prosperity and showing the world that London is open business.’