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The upcoming strikes by RMT union members of the London Underground in January will create significant chaos in the city next week.
Beginning on Sunday, January 7th, if the planned strike occurs, there will be an early cessation of services that evening and limited or no service on the entire Tube network from Monday to Thursday. It is anticipated that regular service will resume on Friday morning.
TfL has recommended that tube passengers only make essential journeys.
The workforce will strike on separate days in order to create the most disruption while avoiding employees losing four days of pay.
The RMT union rejected a pay offer of 5 percent, which they deemed as “below inflation”, with a majority vote of over 90 percent. The union stated that the offer was not acceptable.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch stated that Transport for London’s decision to not reinstate staff travel benefits and create a divided workforce is unacceptable.
“Our members have expressed their willingness to take action and we urge TfL to enhance their proposal in order to prevent any disruptions in the city.”
A representative from TfL expressed disappointment over the RMT’s decision to go on strike due to our complete and non-negotiable pay proposal.
During our discussions with our trade unions, we have consistently stated that this offer is the maximum amount we can afford. Our top priority is to maintain safe, reliable, and sustainable operations.
We urge the RMT to communicate with us in order to prevent any disruptions for those living in London.
This is all the information we currently have.
When will the Tube strikes occur in January 2024?
There will be a period of industrial action starting on Sunday, January 7th and ending on Friday, January 12th. During this time, services will experience the following impacts:
On Sunday, January 7th, tube services will end earlier than usual. It is recommended that customers finish their tube trips by 5:30pm.
From Monday, January 8th to Thursday, January 11th, there will be significant disruption and it is anticipated that there will be very limited or no services running.
On Friday, January 12th, there will be a delayed start for Tube services, but a regular service is expected by midday.
TfL recommends that commuters who must travel during the strike should prepare in advance, review their route beforehand, and allot extra time for transportation.
Are there any operational London Underground trains?
Although there will be disruptions on all Tube lines, all other TfL services will remain unaffected. Buses, DLR, London Overground, and Elizabeth line services will continue to run. However, TfL cautions that these services may experience higher volumes of passengers and could be impacted by station closures that also serve London Underground lines.
There may also be one-way or queue systems in operation.
What are some ways to navigate during the Tube strikes?
Aside from buses and the DLR, commuters in London have the option to utilize the London Overground and Elizabeth line for transportation. Additionally, they can choose to use one of the city’s bike rental programs, such as Santander Cycles, which starts at £1.65 for a 30-minute rental, or Lime, which has a £1 unlocking fee and charges 23p per minute for riding.
Sometimes, it may be feasible to reach your desired location on foot. TfL is enthusiastic about encouraging walking as a mode of transportation – they already offer helpful walking guides and have partnered with Go Jauntly to create a Walking Tube Map for smartphones, making it more convenient to incorporate walking into daily travels.
Trips can certainly be accomplished using a car, whether it be a personal vehicle or a London taxi or other ride-sharing service like Uber. However, there is expected to be heavier traffic on the roads, and travelers have been advised to give themselves more time for their travels.
Source: independent.co.uk
