Tube strikes are set to wreak havoc on London commuters this week as passengers face four days of disruption. RMT union have planned the strikes for Tuesday, April 21, and Thursday, April 23, with both lasting 24 hours. The strikes are set to affect the Piccadilly and Circle lines most, with no service expected on either line.
As of Monday, 20 April, we’ve now entered the “danger zone” for the planned strikes, which are due to start at midday on Tuesday, 21 April. Reports from Friday suggested that there were still “no formal peace talks” arranged between TfL and the RMT, leaving little sign of a last‑minute breakthrough.
Tube strikes are often cancelled at the very last moment — sometimes with less than 18 hours to go before picket lines are due to appear. Because negotiations frequently continue right up to the “eleventh hour”, it’s not unusual for a strike to be called off while people are literally setting their alarms for the next morning.
The strikes planned in April are a part of the planned series of strikes between April and June. According to RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey, TfL has been ‘unwilling’ to make any ‘concessions’ that would end the strikes.
He said: “We have approached negotiations with TfL in good faith throughout this entire process. But despite our best efforts, TfL seem unwilling to make any concessions in a bid to avert strike action. This is extremely disappointing and has baffled our negotiators The approach of TfL is not one which leads to industrial peace and will infuriate our members who want to see a negotiated settlement to this avoidable dispute.”
Claire Mann, TfL Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement: “We have set out proposals to the RMT for a four-day working week. This allows us to offer train operators an additional day off, whilst at the same time bringing London Underground in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no additional cost.
“The changes would be voluntary, there would be no reduction in contractual hours and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so. We urge the RMT to call off this action, which will disrupt Londoners, and continue to engage with us. If this strike action goes ahead, customers should check before they travel as on some days during the strike, there will be significant disruption, and the level of service we can provide will vary across lines.”