The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has confirmed that planned overnight strikes on the Central and Victoria tube lines will last for three months.
The RMT is one of Britain’s fastest-growing trade unions and covers the transport sector. Following a dispute between the union and London Underground management about rota changes, night Tube drivers will walk out between 8:30 pm and 4:29 am every Friday and Saturday until Sunday 19 June 2022.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “There are simple and cost-free options that would enable us to consider suspending the action.”
Lynch said the issue was that the work/life balance of Tube drivers is not being protected. He has called on TfL to “end their deafening silence” on the problem.
Both the RMT and TfL have expressed that they are keen to get talks back on to prevent the need for strike action but, according to a TfL spokesperson, there are no new or workable proposals being brought forward.
Commuters are furious as they not only face the inconvenience of the strike action, but also a rise in TfL prices. Some are even concerned about the implications for women’s safety.
Anna Rigby, 22, a regular user of the Victoria line from Pimlico Underground, said: “It’s not just an inconvenience but also a threat to the safety of myself and other young women who seek out the night tube as a cheap, safe service.
“Although with the prices going up it’s not even that cheap anymore.”
Eljona Murati, 21, uses the tube to get to work in Victoria and travel to university in Greenwich.
She said: “The regular tube strikes make it a lot harder to get to work and uni, sometimes making my journey a lot longer because I have to use buses. It’s a lot more difficult to travel with ease and without having to rush.”
The TfL spokesperson also said: “Despite the strike action, we’re running a good Night Tube service on the Victoria Line and a regular service on the Central Line, with at least two trains per hour through central London.”
TfL has defended the changes, saying that they were made to preserve a near-normal Tube service while also giving drivers the opportunity for full-time work, new flexible part-time work and long-term job certainty.
If you are using the Victoria or Central lines on a Friday or Saturday between 19:00 and 06:00 the next morning, it is advised that you should check before you travel.
Night London Overground services are not affected by these strikes but will be affected by planned work on some weekends. Buses are also not affected.
