Tube strike August 2015: Commuters will only know if it is going ahead 24 hours before walkout is due to start

Delay: Millions of commuters forced to wait until Monday for Tube strike decision
Lucy Young
Dick Murray21 August 2015

Millions of Tube commuters and London’s business sector will be left not knowing if they have a train service next week until Monday afternoon – just 24 hours before strike action spread over the remaining four days is due to begin.

Union barons are deliberately delaying a final decision on whether the strikes take place to put maximum pressure on London Underground (LU) in the bitter dispute over pay and Night Tube.

London faces a week of disruption with strikes on the Tube, mainline rail and, for the first time, even on a Thames riverboat passenger service.

A separate dispute on mainline First Great Western (FGW) threatens disruption this Sunday then again on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (29th, 30th and 31st Aug) of the Bank Holiday weekend on some services to and from Paddington.

The RMT has ordered its FGW members to walk out in a dispute over staffing of the new fleet of high-speed Hitachi inter-city trains and also the removal of buffet/restaurant car facilities.

The up-to-the-wire Tube strike decision means business leaders and London’s retail trade are left unsure when staff will arrive at offices and shops – or if at all.

Two 24-hour strikes ordered by three of the four Tube unions are due to begin between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm next Tuesday (25th August) lasting until the same times on the Wednesday (26th.)

Then again from the same times Thursday (27th) running through to the same times on Friday (28th.)

Members of the fourth union, Aslef which represents the majority of train drivers at the centre of the Night Tube dispute, will turn up for work after their industrial action was suspended to allow further talks to take place.

Talks to try and settle the dispute continued today at Acas, the conciliation service, and are booked to continue Monday morning.

Negotiators from the RMT, largest of the Tube unions which also represents drivers beside the majority of station staff, signal workers and engineers, will then report back to their controlling executive committee for a crisis meeting Monday afternoon.

Mick Lynch, RMT assistant general secretary, confirmed the “outcome of many hours of intensive negotiations” will be decided on Monday.

The TSSA, the second largest union representing white collar and managerial staff, is also expected to delay any decision until the same time.

Transport for London (TfL) is planning to run an emergency service if the talks fail and the strikes go ahead.

The Tube’s four million plus users were told what to expect if that happens;

  • Monday - Tube services will run as normal.
  • Tuesday - Tube services will run as normal for most of the day with customers advised to complete their journeys by 6.30pm if possible and to travel earlier if they are able – avoiding peak times. Tube services are expected to be exceptionally busy between 4.30pm and 6.30pm
  • Wednesday - LU will run as many Tube services as possible according to how many staff sign onto their shifts. However, most Tube services are unlikely to run at all and those that do run may only serve some stations, and may only run for part of the day.
  • Thursday - Tube services will run as normal for most of the day with customers advised to complete their journeys by 6.30pm if possible and to travel earlier if they are able – avoiding peak times. Tube services are expected to be exceptionally busy between 16:30 and 18:30.
  • Friday - LU will run as many Tube services as possible according to how many staff sign onto their shifts. However, most Tube services are unlikely to run at all and those that do run may only serve some stations, and may only run for part of the day.

Disruption will be exacerbated by a planned walkout by RMT members on City Cruises, one of the major river boat services. This will take place on Thursday, 27 August, between 7am and 8pm in a dispute over pay.

In the FGW dispute, union boss Mick Cash said: “Despite strenuous efforts by our negotiators we have not been able to secure the kind of progress required in the key areas of jobs, services and safety for us to reach agreement.”

One 48-strike has already taken place and the union has refused to rule out further walkouts after the Bank Holiday weekend.

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