{"id":954806,"date":"2026-05-12T12:38:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/954806\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T12:38:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:38:26","slug":"london-underground-strikes-what-are-the-chances-of-may-strikes-being-called-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/954806\/","title":{"rendered":"London Underground strikes: What are the chances of May strikes being called off?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Both TfL and the RMT are locked into a dispute about Tube driver working patterns<\/p>\n

12:50, 12 May 2026Updated 13:03, 12 May 2026<\/p>\n

\"Tube<\/p>\n

Tube strikes will take place between Tuesday, May 19 and Friday, May 22(Image: Denise Baker\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> (TfL) said should cause similar disruption as last time out. The Circle line was entirely out of action during the April walkout,<\/a> while there were part suspensions on the Central, Metropolitan and Jubilee lines.<\/p>\n

All other lines operated with either minor or severe delays<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Where are negotiations sitting?<\/p>\n

Claire Mann (Transport for London COO) and Eddie Dempsey (RMT union General Secretary)(Image: Getty Images\/Tfl\/RMT)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

During last month’s dispute, regional officer Jared Wood said: “RMT members are striking because the London Underground<\/a> 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.”<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

As it stands, next week’s strikes, along with more strikes in mid June<\/a>, are expected to go ahead – although TfL said a more comprehensive update is expected on Thursday, May 14.<\/p>\n

Roundup of disruption during May Tube strikes<\/p>\n

Tuesday May 19 and Thursday May 21<\/strong><\/p>\n