More Tube and bus strikes are approaching, threatening to cause fresh travel disruption for millions of Londoners.
The RMT union had announced two 24-hour walkouts, kicking off at midday on Tuesday, May 19 and again on Thursday, May 21, with the effects spilling across four working days.
However those strikes were cancelled on Monday (May 18).
They were the third and fourth in a series of sixth scheduled 24-hour walkouts between April and June.
During the April walkouts, a number of Tube lines were either fully suspended or part-suspended.
E-bike provider Lime reported a 22% jump in trips on April 23 compared with the previous week, while Forest saw evening rush-hour rides soar by more than 50%.
Commuters squeeze into busy train carriages during strike action on April 21
Getty
Everything we know about the next Tube strikes
Londoners can breath a sigh of relief with the news that strikes planned by RMT Tube drivers this week are no longer happening.
A union spokesperson said: “At the 11th hour the employer has shifted its position allowing us to further explore our members’ concerns around the imposition of new rosters, fatigue and safety issues.
“The dispute is not over and more strike action will follow if we fail to make sufficient progress.”
Strikes scheduled for June 16 and 18 have also been called off.
However the union announced new 24-hour strike dates of June 2 and 4 if the dispute remains unresolved.
The union says its members oppose a new four day working week arrangement on the underground.
Nick Dent, director of customer operations for London Underground, said: “We are pleased that RMT has withdrawn its planned industrial action this week. This is good news for London.
“Our proposal for a voluntary four-day week is designed to improve both work-life balance for drivers and the reliability of service for customers. We look forward to further discussions on the implementation of these proposals with all of our trade unions.”
Under the proposals, the working week for most drivers would be cut from 36 to 35 hours, but contractual hours would not change due to the introduction of paid meal breaks.
This means, essentially, that drivers would work longer days but fewer days each week and fewer overall hours each week.
RMT instead wants a 32-hour week over four days, meaning drivers would work three fewer hours each week for the same salary.
Drivers belonging to the union Aslef will not be participating in the strike, meaning that most Underground lines will be able to operate on a reduced service.
But disruption is expected across the Underground network.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at the Queen’s park depot picket line during the strike action in April
PA
London bus controllers strikes
Meanwhile, further strike action by Transport for London bus workers is taking place on Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, in an ongoing dispute about rota changes.
Walkouts by over 150 bus controllers and network traffic controllers will coincide with the strike action taken by London Underground drivers.
Bus controllers and network traffic controllers do safety critical roles for TfL, which include dealing with incidents and accidents, managing bus stations and putting in place bus stop closures and diversions due to traffic or emergencies such as accidents.
