Tube drivers announce eight 24-hour strikes from 26 November to 25 February over four-day week

The strike schedule

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has announced eight 24-hour strikes by London Underground drivers, each running from noon to noon, so passengers will be affected for 16 days in total. The series is due to begin at noon on Thursday, 26 November 2026 and the last walkout is set for Thursday, 25 February 2027. Between those dates the union has scheduled strikes on 17 and 19 December 2026, and on 4 and 6 January, 17 February and 23 February 2027. The walkouts on Thursday, 17 December and Saturday, 19 December fall in the run-up to Christmas, and the Saturday closure is expected to cause severe disruption for Christmas shoppers heading into London before 25 December.

What the union says

The RMT's general secretary, Eddie Dempsey, accuses London Underground of presenting a broader assault on drivers' conditions as a choice. He argues the scheme would force drivers to give up existing protections, whether they work four days or five, and that those who refuse could be moved from their depots. The union says the proposals would lengthen driving time and duties, bring earlier starts and later finishes, and introduce shift changes at short notice. It also says the plan would weaken transfer rights and annual leave arrangements, and that it would bring hundreds of job cuts. Dempsey put the core of the dispute this way:

“London Underground is attempting to dress up a wholesale attack on drivers' working conditions as a voluntary four-day week.”

TfL's plan and the Aslef position

Transport for London says the four-day week would be voluntary, with the working week spread across 35 hours. The RMT is pushing for the same four days spread across 32 hours. The Guardian reports that the plan has been warmly welcomed by most London Underground drivers, who are represented by the Aslef union. Aslef's full-time organiser on London Underground, Finn Brennan, says the arrangement would give drivers 35 extra days off each year, with rosters based on a 34-hour week, in return for some changed conditions and a move to electronic booking on for duty. He added that management has agreed that anyone who wants to keep a five-day week can do so without detriment, and that talks with TfL on the final details are ongoing. He was sharp about the strikes:

“A strike designed to stop people having the choice of a shorter working week and more time off is a strange choice to make.”

Background and talks

The RMT says it has yet to receive guarantees that drivers can remain on their existing five-day arrangements. The union and TfL have been locked in talks over the four-day week plans, and the RMT says it is not opposed to a genuine four-day week that benefits its members. The Guardian reports that similar strikes took place in April and June, despite TfL insisting the proposals were completely voluntary and Aslef having fully endorsed them. Earlier strikes this year caused widespread disruption, although trains ran on most lines. The RMT is demanding that London Underground withdraw the current proposals and negotiate a settlement.