After a 24-hour strike on Tuesday led to widespread delays on the Tube, commuters were encouraged to work remotely on Thursday because of expected “severe disruptions,” as London Underground lines continue to be suspended today as union members from the RMT continue to take their stand in their walkout. About 10,000 London Underground workers represented by the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers have walked out this week over concerns about job reductions and pensions.
Following the British decision Friday, announcing that it had agreed to 200 million pounds, or about $268 million, in funding for London’s transit agency through June 24. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said, “The funding crisis at TfL which is at the heart of this dispute is not of our making and our members are not prepared to take a hammering to pay for it.” Motivated by job security, conditions, and pensions workers are fiercely taking a strike against the RMT for the second day today and facing extreme scrutiny in response for it. The RMT fears that spending cuts linked to a funding deal by the Government will lead to hundreds of job losses, reduced pensions, and worse working conditions.
When warning customers about delays and asking them to use an alternative method of travel, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer, Andy Lord explained to customers in advance, “We haven’t proposed any changes to pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody has or will lose their jobs because of the proposals we have set out, so this action is completely unnecessary. We know our customers deserve better than this and that is why we’re urging the RMT to talk to us so we can find a resolution to this dispute and call off this action, which is threatening London’s recovery from the pandemic.”
When the Tube stalled Tuesday, crowds waited to load onto buses in London and are doing just that again today as the second official day of the Tube Strike was set for today. There has yet to have been a resolution to this issue however, it has been made clear by the TFL that the Tube schedule should return to normal by 8 A.M., local time.
