In a continuing disagreement over the perceived danger to workers’ pensions and changes to working conditions, Aslef-affiliated Tube drivers said last week that they will go on strike on March 15.
The RMT union subsequently declared that its members, who are mostly station employees, will also go on strike, almost guaranteeing the closure of the Underground.
Aslef called the March 15 strike because it said TfL chiefs had failed to accept the principle that any changes to pensions or working conditions should only happen by agreement.
Strike action shows no sign of letting up as spring approaches, with UK rail workers set to walk out again in their long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
The RMT, which represents 40,000 workers, said there would be “sustained and targeted” industrial action over the next few months.
“Rail employers are not being given a fresh mandate by the government to offer our members a new deal on pay, conditions and job security,” RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said.
However, rail bosses said the strikes are “unjustifiable”.
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train companies, said: "This latest round of strikes is totally unjustified and will be an inconvenience to our customers, and cost our people more money at a time they can least afford it.”
The RDG added that the union had initially agreed that the industry needed modernisation to fund any pay rises but had now “reneged on that position" and did not want reforms.
What dates will UK rail workers go on strike in March and April?
The Tube is expected to be shut for 24 hours on March 15 after the RMT announced its members would strike on the same day Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presents his Budget to Parliament.
Members of the RMT union will strike again on March 16, 18 and 30 and April 1, which coincides with the start of the Easter school holidays.
Members at Network Rail, who are responsible for tracks and bridges, will strike on March 16 and then ban overtime.
Which lines will be affected?
RMT members at 14 rail operators will take strike action over jobs, pay and conditions.
The 14 train operators are:
- Chiltern Railways
- Cross Country Trains
- Greater Anglia
- LNER
- East Midlands Railway
- c2c
- Great Western Railway
- Northern Trains
- South Eastern
- South Western Railway
- TransPennine Express
- Avanti West Coast
- West Midlands Trains
- GTR (including Gatwick Express)
Why are union members striking?
The RMT has said it wants an unconditional pay offer but rail industry representatives have said any pay offer would have to come with changes to working conditions to fund any rises in pay.
Last week the RMT rejected the rail industry’s latest offers, which Network Rail and train companies said was their “best and final” offer.
RMT boss Mick Lynch said it was “dreadful”. He added: “Rail employers are not being given a fresh mandate by the Government to offer our members a new deal on pay, conditions and job security. Therefore, our members will now take sustained and targeted industrial action over the next few months.
“The Government can settle this dispute easily by unshackling the rail companies. However, its stubborn refusal to do so will now mean more strike action across the railway network and a very disruptive overtime ban. Ministers cannot continue to sit on their hands hoping this dispute will go away as our members are fully prepared to fight tooth and nail for a negotiated settlement in the months ahead.”
However, the transport secretary, Mark Harper, when asked about the Government’s latest offer, said he thought “a lot” of railway workers would “like to see this settlement happen”.
