London Underground strikes are a recurring part of life in the capital of the United Kingdom. Described as "one of Britain's most strike-prone industries", the

London Underground The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or by its nickname the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. The ...

has been subject to travel disruption due to industrial action organised by the

National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (commonly known as the RMT) is a British trade union covering the transport sector. Its current President is Alex Gordon and its current General Secretary is Mick Lynch. The RMT is on ...

(RMT) and other unions, in response to disputes over job reductions, pensions, pay, safety, and working conditions. As of 6 December 2022, there are no Tube strikes planned before the end of the year. However, on 8 December 2022, the RMT announced the results of its latest ballot, in which 49.2 percent of its members voted in support of further walkouts over pensions and job cuts, exceeding the 40 percent needed for strike action.

Background

Transport for London is the umbrella government body that operates the

, through its subsidiary, London Underground Limited (LUL). The largest union of Tube workers is the RMT. The others are the

Aslef The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) is a British trade union representing train drivers. It is part of the International Transport Workers' Federation and the European Transport Workers' Federation. At the end of ...

, the train drivers' union, and the TSSA, the

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) is a trade union for workers in the transport and travel industries in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its head office is in London, and it has regional offices in Bristol, Derby, Dublin, Manche ...

Public response and impact

The Tube strike on 10 November 2022 may have cost London's economy £14 million in lost output, according to the

Centre for Economics and Business Research The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) is an economic consultancy based in London, United Kingdom. Cebr supplies economic forecasting and analysis to private firms and public bodies. It provides a range of economic services, ...

. An estimated 78,000 commuters whose physical presence is required at work were unable to travel. During the rail strike on 19 August 2022, more London commuters went to work compared to previous strike days. They cycled or took buses and trains, including the

Elizabeth Line The Elizabeth line is a high-frequency hybrid urban–suburban rail service in London and its suburbs. It runs services on dedicated infrastructure in central London from the Great Western Main Line west of Paddington to and via Whitechapel ...

. The London Cycle Hire Scheme has provided an alternative means of transport during Tube strikes, but quickly reaches capacity during peak travel times.

Legislation

As of 7 December 2022, a bill requiring minimum levels of service to be maintained on transport networks during strikes had been introduced to Parliament, but had not yet been debated.

History

From 2000 to 2008, the RMT balloted for industrial action at least 50 times, resulting in member votes for strike action on 18 occasions. Overall, there were 30 separate strikes during this period.

List of past strikes and closures

References

{{reflist, 30em Strikes (protest) Rail transport strikes London Underground Labour disputes in the United Kingdom