When are the November Tube strikes? Two days of action to still take place despite RMT breakthrough

London Underground strikes deliberate by the prepare drivers’ union Aslef will nonetheless go forward, nonetheless, the RMT union introduced on Friday afternoon their strike motion will likely be suspended.

After a interval of strike-free journey on the London Underground, two transport unions introduced a collection of walkouts in November.

But after negotiations with London Underground, RMT introduced it could not be going forward with the strikes that had been deliberate to begin on Friday night.

Nonetheless, for individuals who commute inside London, and others who continuously use Transport for London’s (TfL) Tube system, planning your journeys forward of time could also be important because the strikes are nonetheless predicted to influence a lot of the capital’s transport community.

Aslef and the Nationwide Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Staff (RMT) each introduced strikes final month over a pay dispute and subsequent “insufficient” pay presents throughout negotiations.

Whereas a collection of strikes on the underground had been introduced after which cancelled this 12 months, the final strike to have an effect on the complete Tube community was in March 2023 over pensions and dealing circumstances, grinding London transport to a halt as site visitors jams unfold throughout the town and buses, trams, the Overground, DLR and the Elizabeth line turned more and more busier.

This time round, TfL stated the motion taken by the unions was “disappointing” however after RMT determined to cancel their strikes, they’re hoping Aslef will even name off their deliberate industrial motion.

Right here’s all the pieces we all know concerning the strikes and what they’ll imply for TfL passengers.

Why are there strikes?

Each prepare unions stated their members had been hanging on account of a dispute over pay, in addition to different points resembling lengthy hours and different employees’ reliefs resembling paid meals.

RMT stated they had been prompted to take strike motion after rejecting a pay deal, which they deemed as “wholly insufficient” that leaves numerous employees excluded from collective bargaining, which is negotiations between workers and employers.

After “repeatedly urging” London Underground to supply a brand new deal to cowl collective bargaining, RMT basic secretary Mick Lynch stated they’ve been left with no selection however to take strike motion, however remained open to additional negotiations.

Nonetheless, in an announcement on Friday afternoon, RMT introduced: “Following intense negotiations with London Underground administration and a considerably improved supply, we’ve suspended the strikes scheduled to begin this night.

“London Underground have sensibly deserted their proposed adjustments to pay buildings which now means all our members will obtain the identical worth in any pay award.

“Additional discussions will happen subsequent week concerning the pay supply however progress has been made which might not have been doable with out the fortitude and industrial power of our 10,000 members on London Underground.”

Claire Mann, Transport for London’s chief working officer, stated they had been “happy” that RMT’s strikes had been referred to as off, and stated additional talks with the union will proceed.

As for Aslef, whose members voted by over 98 per cent in favour of strike motion, they’re in search of a brand new pay settlement with London Underground.

The union stated the earlier supply of a 3.8 per cent pay rise and a variable lump sum would imply Tube drivers can be underpaid in comparison with different TfL drivers whereas working longer hours.

Aslef’s district organiser, Finn Brennan, stated they’ve been “pressured” into taking motion as a result of London Underground administration will apparently not sit down correctly and negotiate with them.

Mr Brennan stated on Wednesday to the London Customary that there had been “no motion” from TfL in response to its calls for for bettering Tube driver circumstances.

“The Aslef strikes are nonetheless on.”

When are the strikes?

Now RMT has cancelled their strikes, TfL has suggested on how passengers could also be affected throughout the remaining strike motion carried out by Aslef.

7 November: No Tube companies anticipated.

12 November: Extreme disruption on the Tube, with little to no service anticipated. Any companies that run are anticipated to begin late and end early.

Mann stated: “We’ll proceed to work intently with all our commerce unions, and urge Aslef to additionally name off its deliberate motion subsequent week. If it goes forward, prospects ought to verify earlier than they journey as throughout their strikes on 7 and 12 November, there will likely be little-to-no service.”

Which Tube strains will likely be affected?

TfL signifies that the London Underground community will likely be affected.

There are not any strikes deliberate on different TfL companies. Nonetheless, some DLR, London Overground (together with the Night time Overground) and the Elizabeth line companies could not cease at sure stations with Tube strains. This is because of doable station closures.

TfL says that different transport companies will likely be extraordinarily busy and journeys could also be delayed.

Roads are additionally predicted to be extraordinarily busy.