Plans to restart the Night Tube for first time since pandemic will be hit by strikes with drivers set to walk out on Central and Victoria line from 8.30pm tonight
- RMT union strikes have shattered plans to restart the Night Tube this weekend
- Today’s strike will last for eight hours as drivers will walk out from 8.30 tonight
- There will be more weekend stoppages in the run up to the festive winter period
Plans to restart London’s Night Tube on Saturday evening for the first time since the pandemic have been hit by a strike.
Drivers launched a 24-hour strike on Friday and members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out on the Victoria and Central lines in a dispute over rosters.
Saturday’s strike will last for eight hours, shattering plans to restart the Night Tube for the first time since it was suspended.
London Underground is expecting to operate a reduced service on the Central and Victoria lines overnight as well as on the 3-5 December, 10-12 December and 17-18 December
There will be more weekend stoppages in the run up to Christmas.
The union says Transport for London (TfL) has ‘ripped up’ an agreement on Night Tube driving by changing rosters and urged London Underground to ‘start listening’.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘The widespread impact on services is solely down to management failure to recognise and address the anger of their staff at the imposition of damaging and unacceptable working practices.
‘This action was wholly avoidable if LU (London Underground) bosses hadn’t attempted to bulldoze through arrangements that abolished the Night Tube driver grade, lumping everyone into a central pool where they can be shunted about at will in a drive to cut costs.
‘Our members have spoken and it’s time for London Underground to start listening.
‘The Mayor and his officials need to recognise our determination to defend progressive and family-friendly working practices. We remain available for talks.’
No jobs are being lost and the roster changes mean drivers would work around four Night Tube weekends every year, TfL says.
No jobs are being lost and the roster changes mean drivers would work around four Night Tube weekends every year, TfL says
London Underground’s managing director Andy Lord said: ‘I am very sorry for the inconvenience that this strike action is causing.
‘We understand that our customers will be frustrated by the RMT’s strike action, which is timed to cause maximum disruption to London.
‘This action is the last thing London needs as it recovers from the pandemic, which is why we have done everything we can to get this action called off.’
Drivers launched a 24-hour strike on Friday and members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out on the Victoria and Central lines in a dispute over rosters
Mr Lord said that London Underground is expecting to operate a reduced service on the Central and Victoria lines overnight as well as on the 3-5 December, 10-12 December and 17-18 December.
He added: ‘Customers are advised to check before they travel and use buses to complete their journeys where required.’
Nick Dent, director of London Underground customer operations said: ‘At such a pivotal time for the capital’s recovery, we are hugely disappointed that the RMT is threatening London with this unnecessary action.
‘By making changes to Tube driver rosters we have provided greater flexibility for drivers as well as permanent work and job security, something welcomed by all other unions.’
What Tube lines will be affected and why are drivers going on strike?
What’s happening?
RMT is set to begin a 24-hour walkout on the five tube lines from 4.30am on Friday, November 26.
What Tube lines will be affected?
TfL said the Tube lines will are due to be affected are:
- 4:30am 26 November – 4:29am 27 November (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly & Victoria)
- 8:30pm 27 November – 4:29am 28 November (Central & Victoria)
- 8:30pm 3 December – 4:29am 4 December (Central & Victoria)
- 8:30pm 4 December – 4:29am 5 December (Central & Victoria)
- 8:30pm 10 December – 4:29am 11 December (Central & Victoria)
- 8:30pm 11 December – 4:29am 12 December (Central & Victoria)
- 8:30pm 17 December – 4:29am 18 December (Central & Victoria)
- 4:30am 18 December – 4:29am 19 December (Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly & Victoria)
Why are Tube drivers striking?
TfL announced that London’s Night Tube service is set to resume from November 27 on the Victoria and Central lines.
The east-west Central Line and north-south Victoria Lines were set to operate overnight on Fridays and Saturdays each week.
The RMT says the rota changes have resulted in ‘unacceptable and intolerable demands’ on its members and their work-life balance.
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