A week-long strike by London Underground workers is causing widespread disruption across the city, as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union walk out in protest over pay and working conditions.
The strike, which began on Saturday, 6 September, is expected to continue through Friday, 12 September, with little to no service running on the Tube network during this period.
Key Union Demands
RMT members are demanding:
- A significant pay rise
- A reduction in working hours, citing rising fatigue among staff
Transport for London (TfL) has offered a 3.4% pay increase, but union representatives say that falls short.
Talks remain deadlocked, as RMT insists that workers’ health and work-life balance must also be addressed.
Current Working Hours
London Underground staff currently work a 35-hour week, which the union argues contributes to fatigue and mental strain, particularly for frontline staff working unsociable hours.
London Underground drivers have a fixed annual salary of £68 096 (R1.62 million) with the potential to earn between £70 000-£80 000 (R1.66 million to R1.9 million) due to overtime and shift allowances for unsociable hours, etc.
That’s a monthly salary of R135 000.
That’s significantly more than Metrorail drivers pocket in South Africa.
Tube Worker Salaries
- Train drivers: £68 096 base salary, with potential earnings of £70 000-£80 000 including overtime and shift allowances
- Customer service assistants: ~£30 382
- Supervisors: ~£56 846
- Customer service managers: ~£60 922
- Train maintainers: £50 000-£58 000
- Station supervisors: £37 000-£53 000
Economic Impact
According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the strike could cost the economy £230 million, largely due to the loss of an estimated 700 000 working days across both the transport sector and commuting workforce.
Major stations like London Victoria, King’s Cross, and London Bridge have seen chaos as commuters are forced to seek alternative routes, placing additional strain on buses, taxis, and mainline rail services.
What’s Next?
Unless negotiations progress, strike action is expected to continue through to 12 September, with further industrial action possible if no agreement is reached.
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