RMT faces backlash as Tube strikes go ahead despite four-day week deal

24-hour walkouts are scheduled to begin at midday on Tuesday and again at noon on Thursday, causing knock-on disruption across a four-day period. The dispute involves Transport for London proposals for a voluntary four-day working week for Underground drivers, many earning around £75,000 a year. The deal has been accepted by the train drivers’ union, with a memo describing it as a major improvement in working conditions and stating that the Bakerloo Line pilot would be voluntary. The RMT continues industrial action, arguing the arrangement is a compressed five-day workload into four days. The RMT cites reduced flexibility, limited notice of shift patterns, concerns about shift length and fatigue, and potential safety impacts in a safety-critical role.

"London commuters are braced for renewed travel disruption this week as 24-hour walkouts begin at midday on Tuesday and again at noon on Thursday, creating knock-on disruption across a four-day period. The dispute centres on proposals by Transport for London to introduce a voluntary four-day working week for Underground drivers, many of whom earn around £75,000 a year. While the deal has been accepted by the train drivers' union, the RMT has continued with industrial action, arguing the proposal amounts to a compressed working pattern rather than a genuine reduction in hours."

"In a memo to members, Finn Brennan, Aslef's district organiser for the Tube, described the proposals as "the biggest improvement in working conditions for Underground train drivers in decades". "It means you will have working conditions that are as good as, or better than, those on any mainline train company," he said. Mr Brennan stressed that the Bakerloo Line pilot scheme would be voluntary and not imposed on staff, adding: "The reality is few people will want to keep working an extra day and more hours every week for no extra money and less time off.""

"However, the RMT said its members had serious concerns over the structure of the proposed arrangement. An RMT spokesperson said: "Our members feel that this is a 'fake four-day week' that amounts to five days' work compressed into four." "This includes reduced flexibility over shift patterns, with the potential for only 24 hours notice of what shifts drivers will be doing, serious concerns from our members about shift length and resulting fatigue impacting safety in a safety-critical role like Tube driving.""

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