Tube drivers are to stage two one-day strikes in April and May, which would bring the entire London Underground network to a halt, unless a dispute over changes to working conditions is resolved in time.
The members of the Aslef union, which represents 96% of train drivers in Britain, plan to strike on Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May. The strikes would start at 00:01 and finish at 23:59.
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “Aslef tube train drivers will strike in April and May in a long-running dispute over London Underground’s failure to give assurances that changes to our members’ terms and conditions will not be imposed without agreement and that all existing agreements will be honoured.
“Despite a previous commitment to withdraw plans for massive changes to drivers’ working conditions, London Underground management has established a full-time team of managers preparing to impose their plans.”
He said under the proposals, staff would have to work longer shifts, spending up to 25% more time in the cab, and current working agreements would be removed in the name of “flexibility and efficiency”.
Brennan said the changes were about “getting people to work harder and longer for less”. He added that management had also failed to deliver on commitments made to the union on making drivers’ cabs secure, on police numbers on the night tube and on training.
He said the union remained ready to talk but wanted to see “real action from management – not easily broken promises”. The two sides are not currently in negotiations.
Aslef drivers voted by more than 98% in favour of strike action on a turnout of more than 70%. They also went on strike for one day in March last year.
Transport for London (TfL), which runs London Underground, has grappled with a funding gap since the former chancellor George Osborne slashed central government funding in 2015.
Income from fares and business rates in the capital is not enough to cover the cost of running the tube network. Last year TfL reached an agreement with the government on a funding settlement until 31 March.
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