RMT industrial action 5th - 12 September 2025

[Dstock7080]

Tube staff to strike over pay and work conditions

RMT will launch rolling strike action over pay, conditions and broken agreements on London Underground

Tube union RMT, today announced rolling strike action across the network beginning on Friday 5th September for seven days, with different grades taking industrial action at differing times.

www.rmt.org.uk

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn728er5p1mo

Rolling 24hr strike action across many grades:

18.00 5 September to 17:59 6 September: Ruislip depot operational managers
midnight 7 September: track access controllers, LU control centre staff, power/control teams and Emergency Response Unit
midnight 8 September: engineers, station staff and train operators
midnight 9 September: signallers, LU service control and Emergency Response Unit
midnight 10 September: engineers, station staff and train operators
midnight 11 September: signallers, service control

 

[Broucek]

I have no opinion on whether the union and its members are right to be upset, but disrupting a whole city for an entire week seems a disproportionate response to me.

I'm a laptop worker so I don't need to travel myself but this disruption will fall heaviest on those who need to be physically present to do their jobs. That will include many low paid individuals and others whose jobs are genuinely vital (NHS, teachers etc.).

Even if Tfl bosses are truly awful, is this really necessary?

 

[Thirteen]

I have no opinion on whether the union and its members are right to be upset, but disrupting a whole city for an entire week seems a disproportionate response to me.

I'm a laptop worker so I don't need to travel myself but this disruption will fall heaviest on those who need to be physically present to do their jobs. That will include many low paid individuals and others whose jobs are genuinely vital (NHS, teachers etc.).

Even if Tfl bosses are truly awful, is this really necessary?

The RMT knows the LU bosses and TfL will likely give into some of the demands since the Tube disrupted for a week costs London billions.

 

[Horizon22]

If this doesn't get called off, expect no service on London Underground pretty much all week due to the combination of grades on each day. Also residual impact to services like Elizabeth line, Overground lines, Chiltern and other operators who share infrastructure.

It's quite extreme to have so many grades involved and such a range of grievances included.

 

[Thirteen]

If this doesn't get called off, expect no service on London Underground pretty much all week due to the combination of grades on each day. Also residual impact to services like Elizabeth line, Overground lines, Chiltern and other operators who share infrastructure.

It's quite extreme to have so many grades involved and such a range of grievances included.

I think if I was being cynical, this is Eddie Dempsey trying to flex his power because he knows this would cripple London financially for that week.

Also politically damaging for Sadiq Khan and TfL.

 

[Horizon22]

I think if I was being cynical, this is Eddie Dempsey trying to flex his power because he knows this would cripple London financially for that week.

Also politically damaging for Sadiq Khan and TfL.

I think it is the first week back after the school holidays too?

 

[Thirteen]

I think it is the first week back after the school holidays too?

Technically it's the second week but a lot of events are going on that week like Coldplay at Wembley.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I think if I was being cynical, this is Eddie Dempsey trying to flex his power because he knows this would cripple London financially for that week.

Also politically damaging for Sadiq Khan and TfL.

Except, of course, that's not at all how it works.

Trade union members feed back to their representatives on how they feel about an issue. Reps discuss this and it works its way up if there is significant feeling, with a request for a ballot.

A ballot of all eligible trade union members takes place. If the ballot succeeds, reps meet to further discuss a plan of action and that is presented to those further up the union where it will either get approved or knocked back down.

I've not been involved closely with these dates, but I have in the past. Strikes are designed to be disruptive, and if you're not happy about it take it up with your Assembly Member and/or MP - these issues are largely within their gift.

And yes, there's plenty of times that the GS (current and past), or his Assistants, have blocked a proposed plan of action for not being proportionate to the issue at hand.

TUs, and indeed the RMT, aren't without criticism, but at least have your facts lined up before doing so.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Technically it's the second week but a lot of events are going on that week like Coldplay at Wembley.

So one positive could be a marriage saved?
But seriously, would services on shared London Overground / Underground tracks like Gunnersbury-Richmond and Queens Park to Watford Junction mean no LO trains on those routes?

 

[Dstock7080]

But seriously, would services on shared London Overground / Underground tracks like Gunnersbury-Richmond and Queens Park to Watford Junction mean no LO trains on those routes?

They would operate a normal LO service and not affected by the LU action, except the operation of stations
Gunnersbury, Kew Gardens, Queen’s Park-Harrow (except Willesden Junction)

 

[Class15]

So one positive could be a marriage saved?

And no ‘kiss cam’ recording CEOs and HR heads of billion-dollar tech companies!

But seriously, would services on shared London Overground / Underground tracks like Gunnersbury-Richmond and Queens Park to Watford Junction mean no LO trains on those routes?

The actual tracks should be fine as they are owned and run by Network Rail, but the stations might be more difficult…

On the other hand, Amersham to Harrow-on-the-Hill is owned by LU so that will likely be closed.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Theoretically Chiltern services can run on Monday and Wednesday when station staff and drivers are out, but not on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday when various control functions are out.

Practically it depends what service Chiltern want to run - generally in the past it’s been non-stop between Great Missenden and Marylebone.

 

[weeklycommuter]

Theoretically Chiltern services can run on Monday and Wednesday when station staff and drivers are out, but not on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday when various control functions are out.

Practically it depends what service Chiltern want to run - generally in the past it’s been non-stop between Great Missenden and Marylebone.

Will Great Northern services into Moorgate be affected?

 

[bluegoblin7]

I would expect little or no service to Moorgate on the Monday and Wednesday.

 

[Horizon22]

So one positive could be a marriage saved?
But seriously, would services on shared London Overground / Underground tracks like Gunnersbury-Richmond and Queens Park to Watford Junction mean no LO trains on those routes?

Trains would run, stations would be unlikely to open.

Same is true of any shared stops on the Lioness line, parts of the Met line for Chiltern and also Elizabeth line from Bond Street to Whitechapel etc etc.

On some strike days they may open, on others there’s no chance.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Trains would run, stations would be unlikely to open.

Same is true of any shared stops on the Lioness line, parts of the Met line for Chiltern and also Elizabeth line from Bond Street to Whitechapel etc etc.

On some strike days they may open, on others there’s no chance.

Ultimately it depends on the nature of the shared section - contrary to popular belief they’re not all alike.

I would expect the Lioness and Mildmay lines to be relatively unaffected on all days, unlike the Met, Elizabeth line and Moorgate branch. Surface/sub-surface has a big impact, as does LUL-owned infrastructure.

 

[Adsy125]

Is the Elizabeth line likely to be able to run, skipping a few stations? Or is it a situation where an unstaffed station means nothing can run through it? Can the Elizabeth line only exits still open, or are those staffed by LU?

 

[yorksrob]

I think if I was being cynical, this is Eddie Dempsey trying to flex his power because he knows this would cripple London financially for that week.

Also politically damaging for Sadiq Khan and TfL.

He needs Makepeace to talk him round.

 

[Horizon22]

Is the Elizabeth line likely to be able to run, skipping a few stations? Or is it a situation where an unstaffed station means nothing can run through it? Can the Elizabeth line only exits still open, or are those staffed by LU?

Normally on an LU strike day, priority is given to staffing stations shared with other operators. However looking at which grades are on strike when, this is likely to not be possible at all on some days, or some sort of reduced hours only (0700 - 1900).

Otherwise the Elizabeth line would run but trains might have to run non-stop between Paddington <> Stratford/Canary Wharf respectively as Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street are all sub-surface stations staffed by LU staff.

Otherwise this action doesn't impact Elizabeth line staff.

 

[Mawkie]

Normally on an LU strike day, priority is given to staffing stations shared with other operators. However looking at which grades are on strike when, this is likely to not be possible at all on some days, or some sort of reduced hours only (0700 - 1900).

Otherwise the Elizabeth line would run but trains might have to run non-stop between Paddington <> Stratford/Canary Wharf respectively as Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street are all sub-surface stations staffed by LU staff.

There are Ambassadors who are happy to strike break, and LU are happy for them to do a single 4 hr shift every 6 months and claim they can retain the very little training they're given.

Incredibly, there are even Supervisor Ambassadors now! Let's prey nothing serious happens when a station is staffed with office staff with very little operational training.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Anyone know the impact on the 1938 Stock Heritage Trips? I've booked on the Sunday Amersham - Harrow and back...
TIA

 

[rebmcr]

Otherwise the Elizabeth line would run but trains might have to run non-stop between Paddington <> Stratford/Canary Wharf respectively as Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street are all sub-surface stations staffed by LU staff.

Are unstaffed stations permitted to count as escape routes? How many available escape routes does the Elizabeth Line deep tunnel safety certification require?

 

[bluegoblin7]

Normally on an LU strike day, priority is given to staffing stations shared with other operators. However looking at which grades are on strike when, this is likely to not be possible at all on some days, or some sort of reduced hours only (0700 - 1900).

Otherwise the Elizabeth line would run but trains might have to run non-stop between Paddington <> Stratford/Canary Wharf respectively as Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street are all sub-surface stations staffed by LU staff.

Otherwise this action doesn't impact Elizabeth line staff.

Expect trains to operate non-stop between Stratford/Canary Wharf and Paddington (exclusive) first thing and last thing. The LU CCOS stations will almost certainly be opened by ambassadors during office hours.

Anyone know the impact on the 1938 Stock Heritage Trips? I've booked on the Sunday Amersham - Harrow and back...
TIA

At the moment these are running as scheduled - that's all I can say as I'm juggling a few different hats for this particular event!

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Expect trains to operate non-stop between Stratford/Canary Wharf and Paddington (exclusive) first thing and last thing. The LU CCOS stations will almost certainly be opened by scabs ambassadors during office hours.

At the moment these are running as scheduled - that's all I can say as I'm juggling a few different hats for this particular event!

Thanks

 

[Horizon22]

Are unstaffed stations permitted to count as escape routes? How many available escape routes does the Elizabeth Line deep tunnel safety certification require?

The whole of the central operating section (COS) has trackside tunnels and outside of stations there are escape shafts too.

 

[rebmcr]

The whole of the central operating section (COS) has trackside tunnels and outside of stations there are escape shafts too.

But those trackside walkways (in the tunnels as I think you are trying to convey) lead to stations and stairwells that might plausibly require staff to be present for a safe evacuaton.

 

[Horizon22]

But those trackside walkways (in the tunnels as I think you are trying to convey) lead to stations and stairwells that might plausibly require staff to be present for a safe evacuaton.

RfLI staff could coordinate the evacuation.

 

[Adsy125]

I'm assuming passengers may struggle to get there however.

At the moment these are running as scheduled - that's all I can say as I'm juggling a few different hats for this particular event!

 

[bluegoblin7]

I'm assuming passengers may struggle to get there however.

If the heritage trips are running a passenger service will be running.

That's about all I can say on this one.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Can someone tell me the timings of the Amersham-Harrow heritage trips next Sunday?
I’d like to take my grandson to see the train passing Rickmansworth if possible.