Commuters have been told to avoid the Tube and check before traveling due to the latest strike in a long-running dispute over jobs and pensions. The Elizabeth Line and National Rail services should run as normal but are expected to be much busier. London buses are likely to be overcrowded and run slower due to busier roads. Docklands Light Railway and London Overground trains may experience last minute disruption and may not stop at all Tube connecting stations. London Trams will also run reduced timetables. The industrial action, mainly by RMT members on the tube, will involve around 1,000 Unite members. RMT staff on London Overground will also be on strike, although Transport for London says services will continue to run. The disruption to the pipe is expected to continue into Friday morning as staff return to work. Talks on Tuesday failed to avert the strike. Glynn Barton, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “I would like to apologize to our customers for any disruption caused by Thursday’s industrial action. “Customers should check before traveling on Thursday and are advised to expect very limited or no services on the Tube.” RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members are resolute in their determination to see a fair settlement of this jobs and pensions dispute. And they will continue their industrial campaign for as long as it takes.” Unite, which is also seeking a pay rise for its members working in a variety of roles across Transport for London, accused TfL of “needlessly attacking” a sustainable pension scheme. Its general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “TfL must stop behaving like an employer beating the competition and put forward an offer that is acceptable to our members.” Subscribe to Business Today Get ready for the business day – we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. TfL is proposing to cut the number of staff at stations by around 10% and overhaul its workers’ pension scheme as part of an agreement reached with central government on a funding arrangement to shore up its finances after the pandemic. TfL said no staff would lose their jobs and there were no current proposals to cut pensions.
