London Underground drivers are set to head to the picket lines again this week to voice their discontent at a proposed four-day working week. Transport for London (TfL) wants to change the current 36-hour pattern spread over five days for drivers to a 35-hour week over four days, with one less paid lunch break. Union bosses believe the proposed change in the working week would cause fatigue and affect shift patterns, and are pushing for a 32-hour working pattern across four days instead.
To protest the proposal, which TfL said would be voluntary, RMT members are to take industrial action over two 24-hour periods between May 19 and May 22, similar to the strikes that took place in April. Last month, commuters and tourists alike faced major travel misery, with some lines brought to a standstill by the strikes. Ahead of the new action, TfL is urging passengers to seek alternative routes and plan in advance.
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Tube drivers are staging two 24-hour walkouts from 12pm on Tuesday, May 19 and 12pm on Thursday, May 21:
Tuesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 21
Wednesday, May 20 and Friday, May 22
Historically, Tube strikes have been called off with very little notice thanks to breakthroughs in talks at the eleventh hour. At the time of writing, however, the strikes are set to go ahead.
Much like during the April strikes, it is expected most of the Tube network will be affected at various degrees by the industrial action this coming week.
TfL has warned two lines in particular may be the worst-hit due to the higher proportion of RMT drivers working on these routes.
No service is expected also on a stretch of the Metropolitan Line (between Baker Street and Aldgate) and Central Line (between White City and Liverpool Street).
TfL also warned that while service is expected on the other Underground lines, "there will be disruption to journeys" and "service levels will vary throughout the week".
While commuters and tourists will surely experience disruptions, there will still be services operating should the strike not be called off.
Much like in April, the Elizabeth Line, DLR, buses, London Trams and London Overground will run as normal.
However, it is likely they will be busier than normal as they will cater also for Tube passengers seeking alternative routes, MyLondon reports.
After the strikes held across April 21, 22, 23 and 24, two more sets of strikes are planned to take place over the working hours dispute.
Besides the strikes scheduled for the coming week, commuters may expect further misery on the following days in June:
