Londoners should brace themselves for further transport chaos in the upcoming week as new strikes threaten to paralyse Tube services.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) is planning two 24-hour strikes on Tuesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 4, amid an ongoing row over proposals to introduce a voluntary four-day week for drivers.
Certain Tube lines may be forced to close if the walkout proceeds, while all others will run with either severe or minor delays. The disruption could particularly impact parents returning to work after the May half-term break.
The union called off its planned strikes in May at the last minute following progress in negotiations. RMT officials stated that Transport for London (TfL) had “shifted its position” on the four-day week proposal, but the authority has since told MyLondon that its stance hasn’t changed throughout the dispute.
This provided both parties more time for discussions, but the union confirmed that the strikes on Tuesday and Thursday are still scheduled to proceed. TfL expressed hope that the issues raised by the RMT can be resolved over time, requesting the walkout be cancelled so more detailed talks can take place.
However, the union alleges that TfL has consistently declined to engage meaningfully with their concerns about the voluntary four-day week arrangements.
Eleventh-hour discussions will take place on Monday in an attempt to prevent strikes by London Underground drivers over a dispute concerning the working week. At this stage, here’s all you need to know about the potential disruption.
Which days will be impacted?
The June strikes will have one key difference compared to the most recent walkouts. Unlike the April strikes, when industrial action kicked off at midday, the 24-hour walkouts this time will run from midnight to 11.59pm on Tuesday, June 2, and again from midnight until 11.59pm on Thursday, June 4. This means disruption is expected to severely affect the morning rush hour, while the previous strikes had a more immediate impact on afternoon and evening travel.
TfL has expressed hope that the issues raised by the RMT can be resolved over time, requesting the walkout be called off so more comprehensive discussions can take place. However, the union alleges that TfL has consistently refused to engage meaningfully with their concerns about the voluntary four-day week arrangements.
With neither party reaching an agreement just two days before the strike, here’s everything you need to know about the potential disruption.
How are the negotiations progressing?
The disagreement revolves around TfL’s desire to introduce a voluntary four-day week for drivers. They currently earn approximately £80k and work 36-hour weeks spread over five days, but the transport authority wants them to work 35 hours across four days.
Instead, the RMT is advocating for drivers to work 32 hours over four days. However, TfL’s chief operating officer, Claire Mann, has stated that this would be “unaffordable” for London, costing “in the tens of millions”.
Following the cancellation of the last strike, which was scheduled between Tuesday, May 19 and Friday, May 22, both parties seemed on the verge of reaching a resolution. The RMT appeared satisfied that TfL was “willing to compromise on rosters, fatigue and safety issues’, although TfL told MyLondon it had not changed its position since the start of the dispute.
The transport authority reiterated that Tube drivers can choose not to opt in to the new pattern and can continue working the current five-day week across 36 hours.
TfL added that staff are monitoring the success of the four-day week trial currently being held on the Bakerloo line before developing an agreement for drivers across the Tube network, and called for the RMT to call off the strike as it could hinder ongoing discussions.
Rival drivers union ASLEF has already accepted the four-day week proposal calling it the “, although TfL informed MyLondon that its stance had remained unchanged since the dispute began.
The transport authority reiterated that Tube drivers have the option not to participate in the new schedule and can continue working the current five-day week across 36 hours.
TfL also noted that staff are currently evaluating the success of the four-day week trial being conducted on the Bakerloo line before formulating an agreement for drivers across the Tube network. It urged the RMT to cancel the strike as it could potentially disrupt ongoing negotiations.
The rival drivers’ union, ASLEF, has already accepted the four-day week proposal, describing it as the “biggest improvement in working conditions for decades”. This somewhat undermines the RMT’s position, as ASLEF drivers would still report for duty during the strike.
Offering an update on where negotiations currently stand, TfL chief Claire Mann said: “We still believe that the points they have raised can be worked out in time, through more detailed discussions and we are continuing to talk to the union’s representatives to find a way to avoid disruption to London.”
The RMT maintains that TfL has continued to not engage meaningfully with the union’s concerns about the proposed four-day week. “Our members have raised serious concerns around fatigue, longer shifts, reduced flexibility and the impact these proposals could have in a safety-critical role,” a spokesperson said.
“RMT remains available for meaningful talks, but London Underground cannot push ahead with changes to drivers’ working conditions while refusing to properly address legitimate safety and workplace concerns.”
Which lines will be affected?
TfL anticipates there will be no service on the Piccadilly and Circle lines, while the Metropolitan line will probably close between Baker Street and Aldgate and the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street. The Piccadilly line has the largest proportion of drivers who are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) out of all lines, while the Circle line and sections of the Metropolitan and Central line will probably shut so TfL can safeguard services on busier parts of the network. In April, the Piccadilly line managed to operate despite severe delays. The Victoria and Northern lines – the most congested on the Tube network – ran with minor delays during the strike. Most lines are anticipated to close early due to a lack of staff resulting from the strike.
Timeline of recent London transport strikes:
Strikes that proceeded are highlighted in bold
- 2022 (June–August): Multiple Tube and rail walkouts over pay and job security during a wave of national strikes across the UK.
- 2023 (March & July): Tube drivers staged 24-hour strikes over pensions, pay freezes, and working hours.
- 2024 (January): Sir Sadiq Khan averts RMT strike after finding £30m for pay offer.
- 2024 (April): Planned strike by ASLEF was cancelled after improved pay offer.
- 2024 (November) – RMT and ASLEF strike called off at the last minute due to improved pay offer.
- September 2025: Seven-day Tube strike and DLR strike action over fatigue, shift patterns, and wage disputes.
- March 2026: Two 24-hour strikes were suspended by the RMT after the union claimed TfL was willing to negotiate about plans to impose a four-day week. Two extra strike dates were added in March
- April 2026: Two 24-hour strikes took place while the RMT is pushed for a 32-hour working week spread over four days, instead of the proposed 35 hours week.
- May 2026: Two 24-hour strikes were suspended at the eleventh hour after the RMT said TfL was willing to ‘compromise on rosters, fatigue and safety issues’.
- June 2026 (planned): Two 24-hour strikes took place while the RMT is pushed for a 32-hour working week spread over four days, instead of the proposed 35 hours week.
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