The industrial dispute with union Aslef centres around proposed changes by TfL to tube train drivers’ terms and conditions

Severe disruption is expected on all London Underground lines during two strikes in April and May.

Customers are being advised to check before they travel as planned strike action by the Aslef union is expected to impact tube services on Monday, 8th April and Saturday, 4th May.

The industrial dispute centres around proposed changes by Transport for London (TfL) to tube train drivers’ terms and conditions. A strike day also took place last year in relation to the issue.

TfL says it will operate as much of the network as possible during the two upcoming strikes, but it is currently expecting “severe disruption” on both days if the strikes go ahead with “little or no service expected on some lines”, and tube services starting later the days following the strikes.

While Londoners will still be able to travel on London Overground, Elizabeth Line, Docklands Light Rail, tram and cable car services, they may be subject to last-minute changes, and TfL expects these services will be much busier than usual and queuing systems may be in place.

London buses are also expected to operate normally during this planned strike action, but “many routes will be extremely busy”.

Nick Dent, director of customer operations for London Underground, said:  “We are encouraging Aslef to continue engaging with us so the strike action can be avoided. We would like to advise anyone travelling to please check before you travel, expect services to be busy and please allow extra time to complete your journeys.”

Aslef tube train drivers voted by more than 98% in favour of strike action on a turnout of over 70%, well in excess of the legal threshold to take industrial action.

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, explained: “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.

“They want drivers to work longer shifts, spending up to 25% more time in the cab, and to remove all current working agreements in the name of ‘flexibility and efficiency’.

“Everyone knows what these management buzz words really mean. It’s about getting people to work harder and longer for less. Management has also failed to deliver on commitments given to us on making drivers’ cabs secure, on police numbers on the night tube and on training. Our members simply don’t believe what LU management tells them anymore. Aslef is, as always, ready to talk, but we want to see real action from management – not easily broken promises.”

For more information on how the tube strikes affect services:
Visit tfl.gov.uk/strikes

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