London Underground drivers represented by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will start a series of 24-hour strikes on March 24th, escalating a dispute with Transport for London (TfL) over the implementation of a four-day working week. The strikes are scheduled to occur on March 24 and 26, April 21 and 23, and May 19 and 21, disrupting service across the network.
The RMT, which represents approximately 1,800 drivers – estimated to be between 40% and 50% of the total – opposes TfL’s plans to condense the working week, despite the proposals having been rejected by its members. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey stated that London Underground is “trying to force through major changes to working patterns that have already been rejected by our members,” expressing concerns about the potential impact on fatigue, safety, and work-life balance.
The core of the disagreement centers on the structure of the proposed four-day week. While TfL maintains the plan is voluntary and would initially apply only to drivers on the Bakerloo line, the RMT fears unacceptable shift lengths and working time arrangements. The union has instructed its members to cease using electronic devices issued by London Underground, including iPads, as part of the escalating industrial action.
The proposals have drawn a contrasting response from Aslef, the train drivers’ union, which has welcomed the potential for a shorter working week and additional days off. Finn Brennan, a district organiser for Aslef in London, described the RMT strike action as “bizarre,” emphasizing that the four-day week remains a voluntary option. “It will be the first time in the history of the trade union movement that a union has voted to strike against a shorter week and fewer days at work,” Brennan said.
TfL has characterized the planned strikes as “completely unnecessary” and warned of a “serious impact on London’s businesses and commuters.” A TfL spokesperson stated that the organization has been engaged in discussions with the unions regarding the implementation of the four-day week since last year, and that the changes are intended to improve reliability, driver deployment flexibility, and service efficiency without increasing costs. The spokesperson reiterated that drivers who prefer a traditional five-day working week would be able to maintain that schedule.
The RMT previously staged a week-long strike in September 2025, focused on reducing the length of the working week. Dempsey indicated that a negotiated settlement could still avert the upcoming strikes, but affirmed the union’s willingness to take industrial action if a resolution cannot be reached. As of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, TfL has not publicly responded to the RMT’s latest statements regarding the strike dates.
