TfL Tube strike 2015 is on: Expect travel chaos from 6.30pm today and all day Thursday
Millions of commuters will face travel misery today after last-ditch efforts to resolve a dispute over London Underground worker’s pay and hours failed to stop strike plans.
Transport for London’s (TfL) latest offer was turned down by unions late yesterday, paving the way for industrial action that will stop tube services tonight and all tomorrow.
London Underground said services will start winding down around 5pm and predicted trains will be “exceptionally busy” as people race to get home before the walkout officially starts at 6.30pm.
The busiest period is expected to be between 4pm and 6pm, just after The Budget. TfL said there will be extra bus and river services, but public transport and roads will be more congested than usual.
Marshals are to be posted at taxi ranks at central London rail stations to help “manage demand” from the expected crowds.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), Aslef, Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite are striking over pay and work hours being offered for the new Night Tube service, which is due to start at weekends from mid-September, as well as rosters.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said yesterday that London Underground had not addressed “the issues of fairness, safety, work- life balance and equality at the heart of this dispute”.
However the unions were also criticised for the timing of the strike, confirmed 10 years after the 7/7 bombings.