RMT strikes re: 4 day week

[Mawkie]

A couple of months back I was on one of the first trains from Stratford to Shenfield on a Sunday morning. Having originated at London Liv St (NR platforms), the train was busier than you might expect for that time of the day.

Taking my seat opposite two young men in LU uniforms, they were discussing if it would be possible to implement more iPads and technology on the Underground. One of the lads, in their loud conversation stated "You can't do that [some proposal to implement iPads/tech improvements for more grades one might assume] because there are too many 'aunties' in TfL".

For the sake of this explanation, you can understand the use of 'aunties' to mean older individuals that are technology-averse. This leads me to wonder if there is a culture of resistance to embracing technology at London Underground when it could lead to improvements in the way things operate. These two individuals (one of which still had a radio attached; couldn't figure out why - perhaps he had forgotten to remove it when ending his shift?) certainly seemed to believe so. I had imagined they had just finished their night tube shifts.

To address the iPad issue, there isn't resistance to technology per se - lots of Train Ops come from station work, where iPads have been in use for 10 years. There are now very few people (even the aunties/uncles!) who haven't used a smart phone in some way, even just for texts.

Train Ops currently book on* with a Trains Manager, who checks they are fit for work, are in uniform (supposedly), not under the influence of anything, and notifies them of anything exceptional happening on the line, and anything with their individual trains e.g. cancellations or reforms. Train Ops also have time to read the noticeboard - for any temporary speed limits for example. (TMs also have 'management' responsibilities, covering absence, maintaining competencies, etc.)

RMT is an all-grades Union** including Trains Manager members.

If Train Ops are booking on at the platform on an ipad, what happens to the TM grade? It will inevitably lead to a further degradation of that role.

I think the important thing to note from today's suspension of these first set of strikes is that the 'take or leave it' deal doesn't appear to be so take it or leave it after all, and both sides are back around the table.

*The booking on time varies from depot to depot, and the walking time to the platform/sidings/depot also varies from depot to depot. Across the Piccadilly line Train Crew Accommodation sites, this can be 12 minutes to book on and 7 minutes to walk to the platform. Forestry House to Cockfosters train depot is 19 minutes walk time + booking on time. These timings are largely removed under the 4DW proposal meaning Train Ops will now bypass the TM and lose the walking time, meaning much more driving time each week.

LU have mitigated the booking-on time issue by allowing 1.2 day's worth of time per year to check online noticeboards at home on the iPad.

**ASLEF is a single grade union, so it's quite right and proper that they focus solely on Train Ops and don't concern themselves with TMs or other grades.

 

[bramling]

A couple of months back I was on one of the first trains from Stratford to Shenfield on a Sunday morning. Having originated at London Liv St (NR platforms), the train was busier than you might expect for that time of the day.

Taking my seat opposite two young men in LU uniforms, they were discussing if it would be possible to implement more iPads and technology on the Underground. One of the lads, in their loud conversation stated "You can't do that [some proposal to implement iPads/tech improvements for more grades one might assume] because there are too many 'aunties' in TfL".

For the sake of this explanation, you can understand the use of 'aunties' to mean older individuals that are technology-averse. This leads me to wonder if there is a culture of resistance to embracing technology at London Underground when it could lead to improvements in the way things operate. These two individuals (one of which still had a radio attached; couldn't figure out why - perhaps he had forgotten to remove it when ending his shift?) certainly seemed to believe so. I had imagined they had just finished their night tube shifts.

I don’t really think this is the reason. The only reason to book on via an iPad is to essentially remove the need for a crew manager to be involved. You might get away with this at Stranraer with a handful of trains a day, but when you have trains running every 2 or 3 minutes it just isn’t viable. Those who haven’t been near a London Underground booking on desk will not realise just how much work goes on in terms of managing the service - indeed they do more than the controllers do, and the fact that it is done face-to-face makes is it more effective, including less confrontation as it’s generally harder to have an argument across a counter, much easier on the end of a phone/radio.

There is also a separate argument that the iPad is just another thing to have to carry around.

 

[High Dyke]

Strikes are suspended for further talks.

(edit to add email which I missed off due to user error)

Source: X (formerly known as Twitter)

https://x.com/i/status/2034305487856939048

Tube union RMT, have suspended strikes this month following progress in talks with London Underground management.

Further talks are planned in the coming days and weeks to try and reach a negotiated settlement.

All other strike dates from April onwards remain in place and additional strike action on 16 and 18 June has been put in place.

Edit: Reiterate the text source of my posting on this thread. In case anyone missed that, in the first place.

 

[Thirteen]

Funny that the RMT have added in extra strike dates to replace the cancelled March dates.

 

[bluegoblin7]

This has happened before - it keeps the pressure on and sends a clear signal that this is something the union is willing to fight for, whilst still taking a good faith position around the talks.

Proof that unions, and even the threat of strike action, works.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting progress to be made on this one.

 

[fIIsion]

I don’t really think this is the reason. The only reason to book on via an iPad is to essentially remove the need for a crew manager to be involved. You might get away with this at Stranraer with a handful of trains a day, but when you have trains running every 2 or 3 minutes it just isn’t viable. Those who haven’t been near a London Underground booking on desk will not realise just how much work goes on in terms of managing the service - indeed they do more than the controllers do, and the fact that it is done face-to-face makes is it more effective, including less confrontation as it’s generally harder to have an argument across a counter, much easier on the end of a phone/radio.

There is also a separate argument that the iPad is just another thing to have to carry around.

Especially during major disruptions where there will be multiple reforms and instructions for drivers. Can’t see how this is going to be effectively communicated to T/OPs on iPads. The WiFi signal around my location is terrible and I wonder how many drivers will have forgotten to charge their iPads or even remembered to bring them into work.
I feel that a lot of this is been rushed into implementation without a lot of planning.

I do feel the TM grade is not given the credit it deserves. During the hacking event which shut down all of our IT infrastructure, many of us kept things moving by adapting on the fly and producing are own workarounds.

 

[Mawkie]

I wonder how many drivers will have forgotten to charge their iPads or even remembered to bring them into work.

This will become a simple disciplinary process, same as not bringing keys, hi-vi, or handheld radio.

I feel that a lot of this is been rushed into implementation without a lot of planning

I agree, but they've got some time now to think it through properly.

I do feel the TM grade is not given the credit it deserves.

The good ones are excellent, but there are some real stinkers out there. The training and support seems lacking for those without the requisite skill set - and the role does require a broad range of skills.

 

[bluegoblin7]

indeed they do more than the controllers do, and the fact that it is done face-to-face makes is it more effective, including less confrontation as it’s generally harder to have an argument across a counter, much easier on the end of a phone/radio.

I wouldn't necessarily say the first part is true - aside from the fact that, as with all grades, there are differing qualities of staff, the controller/TM workload differs from line to line. On some (and exclusively of the lines I have experience on) the controller very much takes the lead in the reforms of the service and the TM will just report what crews are available and what their remaining parameters are. On others the TMs certainly look after a lot of the reforms, but equally those lines tend to have a higher workload for controllers in other ways, such as incident management and just keeping the service running.

Let's not turn this into a trains vs service control - I can assure you service control do not particularly want the proposed changes to come in either!

 

[bramling]

Especially during major disruptions where there will be multiple reforms and instructions for drivers. Can’t see how this is going to be effectively communicated to T/OPs on iPads. The WiFi signal around my location is terrible and I wonder how many drivers will have forgotten to charge their iPads or even remembered to bring them into work.
I feel that a lot of this is been rushed into implementation without a lot of planning.

Agree. This feels driven by an end goal without considering the real-world implications of it. Mainline style crew management just isn’t suitable for an intense metro service, and being entirely honest mainline style crewing often doesn’t work that well on the mainline nowadays either.

I do feel the TM grade is not given the credit it deserves. During the hacking event which shut down all of our IT infrastructure, many of us kept things moving by adapting on the fly and producing are own workarounds.

Again, agreed. I don’t think many people appreciate how much work goes on to keep the service moving, both during normal times and during disruption. LU very much doesn’t run of its own accord, and service control don’t have the resources (and arguably in some cases the people skills) to manage crewing. Unfortunately, many people, including people in decision-making positions within LU, simply don’t understand how the service is run, and overestimate how much the controller does relative to others.

 

[starlight73]

So far the strikes are still on for next week, and TfL have updated their strikes page with more information.

They expect there will be no service on some lines during the strikes:

• Piccadilly
• Circle
• Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate
• Central line between White City and Liverpool Street

Impact on Tube services​

• The strikes will affect the whole Tube network
• A reduced service will run across most lines but significant disruption is expected
• Any services that do run will be less frequent, very busy, and you may not be able to board the first train
• No service expected on the Piccadilly and Circle lines
• No service expected on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate
• No service expected on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street

 

[BJames]

Just from a cursory glance on the news it looks like this is almost certain to go ahead now as the RMT has accused TfL of refusing to negotiate.

Does anyone have a sense of what the RMT membership on the Victoria line is like? Wondering how a limited Victoria line service will look, it's busy at the best of times (although I know more people will hopefully work from home) and with the Piccadilly expected to have no service I am curious to see how many trains they can get out.

 

[Snow1964]

Just from a cursory glance on the news it looks like this is almost certain to go ahead now as the RMT has accused TfL of refusing to negotiate.

It takes two or more parties to negotiate, and let's be fair, there are many times when TfL has wanted to talk and RMT wasn't interested.
It's rather two faced to accuse the other side of refusing to discuss, when it is a tactic RMT use regularly when it suits them.

 

[bluegoblin7]

The Vic isn't a particularly heavy RMT line, but that is only part of the story: many Aslef members will still, on principle, not cross a picket line, so it is hard to give any meaningful measure of what is going to happen.

 

[BJames]

The Vic isn't a particularly heavy RMT line, but that is only part of the story: many Aslef members will still, on principle, not cross a picket line, so it is hard to give any meaningful measure of what is going to happen.

Thanks - good point.

 

[Starmill]

I think it's safe to assume that there will either be no service or a service on a low frequency only.

 

[bcarmicle]

Is there any chance the service pattern for Tuesday evening will be known before noon? I imagine not as it'll depend on how many drivers actually start turning up for afternoon/evening shifts, but perhaps there's a way I've not thought of

 

[Failed Unit]

Is there any chance the service pattern for Tuesday evening will be known before noon? I imagine not as it'll depend on how many drivers actually start turning up for afternoon/evening shifts, but perhaps there's a way I've not thought of

We can only really judge by what has happened in the past, when they have typically taken out the majority of the underground sections.

For example the Northern runs High-Barnet - East Finchley, Golders Green - Edgeware.

I have no insider information of course, however on most strikes the zone 1 area doesn’t see much so I am planning on that. Great Northern which share TfL stations I also expect to be impacted.

 

[Starmill]

We can only really judge by what has happened in the past, when they have typically taken out the majority of the underground sections.

For example the Northern runs High-Barnet - East Finchley, Golders Green - Edgeware.

I have no insider information of course, however on most strikes the zone 1 area doesn’t see much so I am planning on that. Great Northern which share TfL stations I also expect to be impacted.

A lot of that would probably have been to do with station grades being on strike though I think, which isn't the case this time.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Unfortunately none of the strikes over the last few years will be particularly useful, as they haven't been solely RMT drivers.

Plan for nothing and get a bonus would be my suggestion: whilst I have seen service plans for most lines, they are heavily subject to change as I've said above, and at any rate aren't in the public domain (beyond the definite suspensions posted on the TfL website).

 

[kw12]

Unfortunately none of the strikes over the last few years will be particularly useful, as they haven't been solely RMT drivers.

The Night Tube strikes were solely by RMT drivers, though those strikes applied only during the hours that Night Tube operates. Services continued running on most sections of the Night Tube network, but at lower frequencies than normal.

 

[xtmw]

You can't compare the Night Tube strikes to the current strikes - as said above by @bluegoblin7 ASLEF drivers are likely to not cross the picket line.

 

[Snow1964]

You can't compare the Night Tube strikes to the current strikes - as said above by @bluegoblin7 ASLEF drivers are likely to not cross the picket line.

Might be worth pointing out that ACAS updated its guidance on pickets and crossing picket lines 2 weeks ago (7th April 2026).

Unclear yet if this will change what other employees choose to do, even if in the past they chose not to cross.
Especially as it now appears anyone not involved in the strike who takes secondary action is not protected and could lose their job.

Picketing - Strikes and industrial action - Acas

Who can join a picket, crossing a picket and rules for picket lines during strike or industrial action.

www.acas.org.uk

 

[bluegoblin7]

Any changes would not apply to Aslef train operators as, whilst they are represented by a different trade union, they are still part of the same ‘bargaining unit’ - the same would apply to any train operator not in a trade union.

This would come into consideration for e.g. station or service control staff, but there is no request nor expectation from the RMT for those staff to not cross a picket line - it is not them being picketed.

 

[LTJ87]

TfL’s public guidance says that services that will run are not expected to start until after 07:30 on Wednesday 22nd April.

Does anyone have an indication of how realistic this is?

The reason why I ask is that I need to travel from Vauxhall that morning to catch a train from Euston around 07:45z

 

[bramling]

TfL’s public guidance says that services that will run are not expected to start until after 07:30 on Wednesday 22nd April.

Does anyone have an indication of how realistic this is?

The reason why I ask is that I need to travel from Vauxhall that morning to catch a train from Euston around 07:45z

I presume the rationale for this is that there is a need for sufficient staff to have booked on in order to provide a useable service, so it’s a combination of there having been sufficient potential book-ons by that time and some idea of the numbers that will be available. I can’t see any other reason given that this strike is only drivers, as opposed to other grades.

There’s been a change in strike culture at TFL over the last generation or so, though. There’s current leadership seem happy not to run trains, whereas previous leaderships would have endeavoured to bring out every train possible.

So in answer to the question, if your journey is critical, I wouldn’t absolutely rely on it. But in all likelihood there will be some trains running in some places by then.

 

[Mawkie]

Might be worth pointing out that ACAS updated its guidance on pickets and crossing picket lines 2 weeks ago (7th April 2026).

Unclear yet if this will change what other employees choose to do, even if in the past they chose not to cross.
Especially as it now appears anyone not involved in the strike who takes secondary action is not protected and could lose their job.

Picketing - Strikes and industrial action - Acas

Who can join a picket, crossing a picket and rules for picket lines during strike or industrial action.

www.acas.org.uk

I think ACAS is being a little narrow with their interpretation.

The actual government guidance (updated March 2026) states:

"Secondary" action

12. The "statutory immunities" do not apply to protect a threat of, or a call for or other inducement of "secondary" industrial action. The law defines "secondary" action - which is sometimes referred to as "sympathy" or "solidarity" action - as that by workers whose employer is not a party to the trade dispute to which the action relates.

13. However, a worker employed by a party to a trade dispute, picketing at their own place of work may try to persuade another worker, not employed by that employer to break, or interfere with the performance of, the second worker's contract of employment, and/or to interfere with the performance of a commercial contract. This could happen, for example, if a picket persuaded a lorry driver employed by another employer not to cross the picket line and deliver goods to be supplied, under a commercial contract, to the employer in dispute. Such an act by a picket would be an unlawful inducement to take secondary action unless provision was made to the contrary.

14. Accordingly, the law contains provisions which make it lawful for a peaceful picket, at the picket's own place of work, to seek to persuade workers other than those employed by the picket's own employer not to work, or not to work normally. To have such protection, the peaceful picketing must be done:

a) by a worker employed by the employer who is party to the dispute; or
b) by a trade union official whose attendance is lawful (see paragraphs 22 and 23 below).

 

[bluegoblin7]

TfL’s public guidance says that services that will run are not expected to start until after 07:30 on Wednesday 22nd April.

Does anyone have an indication of how realistic this is?

The reason why I ask is that I need to travel from Vauxhall that morning to catch a train from Euston around 07:45z

I would seek out an alternative route.

 

[MrJeeves]

My understanding is that trains will start running from around 07:00 and potentially you'd see a full Victoria line service from around 07:30, but that's cutting it very tight for your journey, and I would not want to guarantee those times will match reality on the day.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

TfL’s public guidance says that services that will run are not expected to start until after 07:30 on Wednesday 22nd April.

Does anyone have an indication of how realistic this is?

The reason why I ask is that I need to travel from Vauxhall that morning to catch a train from Euston around 07:45z

Do you have any ability to travel earlier?

If you can get across to Waterloo East and down to London Bridge you can get Thameslink to St Pancras then a 15 - 20 minute walk to Euston.

Alternatively, go Waterloo East - Charing Cross and walk to Euston from there? It's less than 2 miles, so about 35 - 40 minutes.

 

[sh24]

TfL’s public guidance says that services that will run are not expected to start until after 07:30 on Wednesday 22nd April.

Does anyone have an indication of how realistic this is?

The reason why I ask is that I need to travel from Vauxhall that morning to catch a train from Euston around 07:45z

If you can, walk. In my now extensive experience of dealing with tube strikes over the last 3 decades it is the only reliable transport method. 1h20 at Google Maps speeds. Otherwise there are bus options but those are likely to be packed, delayed and not at all reliable.

Train to Waterloo, then Charing Cross will shorten the walking but those trains are likely to be packed too.