Both TfL and the RMT are locked into a dispute about Tube driver working patterns
12:50, 12 May 2026Updated 13:03, 12 May 2026
Tube strikes will take place between Tuesday, May 19 and Friday, May 22(Image: Denise Baker/Getty Images)
Strikes are set to cause major disruption on the London Underground once again next week as the Tube driver dispute drags on. Passengers faced line closures and severe delays spread across four days between April 21 and April 25 in the first of three rounds of walkouts.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) will stage two 24-hour strikes – starting at midday on both Tuesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 21 – which Transport for London (TfL) said should cause similar disruption as last time out. The Circle line was entirely out of action during the April walkout, while there were part suspensions on the Central, Metropolitan and Jubilee lines.
All other lines operated with either minor or severe delays although trains stopped running at around 8pm on the Tuesday and Thursday. The ongoing dispute centres around TfL wanting to introduce a voluntary four-day working week for Tube drivers.
They currently work 36 hours spread across five days, but transport bosses are pushing for a new opt-in working pattern where drivers would instead work 35 hours across four days. Rival union ASLEF has already accepted this, but the RMT claims this compressed working week could impact driver fatigue and passenger safety.
Instead, the union wants TfL to agree to a 32-hour week across four days, but TfL chief operating officer Claire Mann has branded this “unaffordable” and said it would cost in the tens of millions.
Where are negotiations sitting?
Claire Mann (Transport for London COO) and Eddie Dempsey (RMT union General Secretary)(Image: Getty Images/Tfl/RMT)
TfL has told MyLondon it continues to have scheduled weekly meetings with both the RMT and ASLEF but specific talks with the former union about coming to an agreement have not taken place.
Both sides are still holding the same position held before and after the strikes in April. TfL insists the new working pattern is voluntary and comprises a fair offer, but the RMT finds the wider offer about shift changes and longer working days unacceptable, so continues to push for a 32-hour week.
During last month’s dispute, regional officer Jared Wood said: “RMT members are striking because the London Underground is imposing a whole raft of changes to the terms and conditions of train driver members. Longer shifts, longer driving spells between breaks, restrictions on transfers between depots, and for many people only 24 hours notice on what duty they’ll be working the next day.”
“All of these things breach traditional agreements we’ve made with London Underground over many years and they’ve been imposed with absolutely no negotiation with our union at all.”
As it stands, next week’s strikes, along with more strikes in mid June, are expected to go ahead – although TfL said a more comprehensive update is expected on Thursday, May 14.
Roundup of disruption during May Tube strikes
Tuesday May 19 and Thursday May 21
- Morning – normal services expected until mid-morning
- Late morning – some disruption as services start to reduce ahead of strike action starting
- After midday – significant disruption expected on all lines
Wednesday May 20 and Friday May 22
- Morning – significant disruption expected on all lines
- After midday – continued disruption throughout the afternoon and evening as we return the service to normal
- Evening – normal service
Timeline of recent London transport strikes
- 2022 (June–August): Multiple Tube and rail walkouts over pay and job security during a wave of national strikes across the UK.
- 2023 (March & July): Tube drivers staged 24-hour strikes over pensions, pay freezes, and working hours.
- 2024 (January): Sir Sadiq Khan averts RMT strike after finding £30m for pay offer.
- 2024 (April): Planned strike by ASLEF was cancelled after improved pay offer.
- 2024 (November) – RMT and ASLEF strike called off at the last minute due to improved pay offer.
- September 2025: Seven-day Tube strike and DLR strike action over fatigue, shift patterns, and wage disputes.
- March 2026: Two 24-hour strikes were suspended by RMT after the union claimed TfL was willing to negotiate about plans to impose a four-day week. Two extra strike dates were added in March
- April 2026: Two 24-hour strikes took place while the RMT is pushed for a 32-hour working week spread over four days, instead of the proposed 35 hours week.
- May and June 2026 (planned): Two 24-hour strikes have been planned each month as the RMT is pushing for a 32-hour working week spread over four days, instead of the proposed 35-hour week.
*Strikes which went ahead are in bold
What about the November pay offer?
Commuters squeeze into busy train carriages during the April strikes(Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
We initially thought this was all over when TfL and the RMT and ASLEF agreed to a 3.4 per cent pay rise for all London Underground staff last November. This has taken salaries for experienced drivers close to £80k per year.
There are also assurances that salaries would increase with the rate of inflation, with the third year of the upgraded pay offer at 0.2 per cent above the retail prices index (used in the UK to calculate inflation).
A London Standard probe found this would mean the starting Tube driver salary of £71,170 could increase to £77,692 by April 2027 if inflation remains at three per cent or higher.
In hindsight all this did was delay strikes for a few months, as the most pressing matter for both TfL and the RMT is introducing a four-day week for drivers on their own terms. ASLEF accepted this deal and TfL’s move to introduce a four-day week, so although its members joined the September strikes they are not partaking in the current round of walkouts.
Tips for travelling during the strike action
Use Alternative Transport
- Buses, the Elizabeth line, and Overground services will continue running but expect significantly longer queues and overcrowded carriages during peak times.
- Walk or cycle for any journey under 2 miles in Central London, as distances are often manageable and faster than waiting for packed alternative services.
- Grab dockless bikes or e-scooters during rush hour when other transport becomes overwhelmed with commuters. Lime usage soared during September’s Tube strikes as Londoners found alternative ways to get to the office.
Plan Around Disruptions
- Some stations will close temporarily if there aren’t enough staff available, so check your route before traveling.
- Timetables can change at very short notice, so always check live updates before setting off.
Prepare in Advance
- Work from home if your employer allows it, especially on strike days that fall on Mondays or Fridays when disruption is typically worst.
- Map out your essential journeys beforehand and identify backup routes using TfL’s journey planner.
- Allow at least double your normal travel time and consider traveling outside the standard rush hours of 7-9am and 5-7pm.
- Book accommodation near Overground or Elizabeth line stations if you’re visiting London during the strike period.
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