Tube drivers to strike over Christmas period in long-running dispute

The walkouts will take place on eight separate days between Thursday, November 26 and Thursday, February 25.

The shock announcement was immediately slammed by business chiefs in London and the Aslef train drivers’ union.

The RMT has announced Tube strikes on eight days

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TfL presented the union with the final proposals a few weeks ago and they have failed to break the deadlock over the changes which have been fully backed by the Aslef train drivers’ union.

The 24-hour strikes will begin at noon on the following dates:

• Thursday 26 November 2026
• Thursday 17 December 2026
• Saturday 19 December 2026
• Monday 4 January 2027
• Wednesday 6 January 2027
• Wednesday 17 February 2027
• Tuesday 23 February 2027
• Thursday 25 February 2027

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “London Underground is attempting to dress up a wholesale attack on drivers' working conditions as a voluntary four-day week.

“But there is nothing voluntary about a scheme that forces drivers to give up existing protections whether they work four days or five, and threatens those who refuse with displacement from their depots.”

He added: “Our members are being asked to spend more time driving trains, accept longer and more unpredictable shifts and surrender agreements that have been negotiated and defended over many years.

“This is not about improving work-life balance. It is about squeezing more work out of fewer drivers while giving management greater flexibility at the expense of our members.”

RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey

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But the industrial action, which threatens to cause travel chaos ahead of Christmas and into the New Year, was condemned by business chiefs.

Karim Fatehi OBE, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The days immediately before Christmas are vital trading days for thousands of businesses across the capital, while hundreds of thousands of visitors come to London over the festive period to shop, dine, stay in hotels and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

“Disrupting the transport network at this time risks costing businesses valuable revenue, deterring visitors and making it harder for staff and customers to get around.“

Signs on the Tube strike inside Tottenham Court Station during a walkout this summer

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The RMT’s position has been severely undermined by Aslef hailing the reforms as offering Tube drivers the best working conditions on the rail network.

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “We are surprised that the RMT has, once again, decided to take strike action to try to prevent Underground drivers moving to a four-day week on a voluntary basis.

“The voluntary four-day week gives Tube train drivers an extra 35 days off every year with rosters based on a 34-hour week in return for some changes to working conditions and moving to electronic, rather than paper-based, systems for booking on for duty.

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

TfL has stressed that the four-day week, for drivers is voluntary and no-one has to accept it.