LONDON — Further tube strikes are looming as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union accuses Transport for London (TfL) of reneging on negotiation promises. The union is pushing for a 32-hour, four-day week, a proposal TfL insists is voluntary, allowing drivers to opt for a five-day schedule. Two rounds of 24-hour walkouts are slated, beginning midday on Tuesday, May 19, and again on Thursday, May 21, with knock-on effects potentially stretching across four working days.
Crisis talks were anticipated this week, but reports suggest no meeting specifically addressing the industrial action has been scheduled. While the RMT union is pressing ahead with the strike, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), representing most London Underground drivers, has accepted TfL's plan and is not participating in the planned industrial action.
The core of the dispute appears to be TfL's alleged intention to impose condensed working hours for a four-day week, despite RMT claims that members have rejected this in referendums. TfL maintains that drivers can retain their five-day week if they choose. This impasse follows earlier disruptions, including strikes in September 2025 and March 2026, which saw significant travel chaos across the network, including the Elizabeth line and Overground.
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Accusations Fly as Negotiations Stall
The RMT union has voiced strong criticism, alleging TfL has made a "U-turn" in negotiations. According to the union, TfL initially offered to discuss all aspects of the four-day week proposals but subsequently indicated these condensed hours would be imposed. This has led the RMT to declare strike action "inevitable."
Disruption from previous strikes has been substantial, with minimal to no tube service anticipated on certain days. Other TfL services, like the Elizabeth line and London Overground, have been predicted to be exceptionally busy, with potential for altered operating schedules. In September 2025, Downing Street called for both parties to return to the negotiating table.
A History of Industrial Action
The current industrial action is part of an ongoing dispute concerning working patterns. Past walkouts have affected various staff groups, including track access controllers and signallers, leading to staggered disruptions across different lines and services. The RMT’s push for a shorter working week without pay cuts has been a central demand in these protracted negotiations.
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In response to the planned action in September 2025, TfL urged the RMT to suspend the strike and put TfL's pay offer to its members, warning of severe disruption if the strikes proceeded. The union has also previously accused TfL of plans to shut Elizabeth line ticket offices, a claim TfL denied. The ongoing situation highlights a persistent friction between union demands for altered working conditions and TfL's operational plans.
