Further London Tube strikes are scheduled for May and June 2026 after this week's walkout failed to resolve the ongoing dispute between the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) and Transport for London (TfL). Two 24-hour strikes took place this week, starting at midday on Tuesday, April 21, and midday on Thursday, April 23, causing significant disruption, particularly to the hospitality sector, with pubs and restaurants reporting fewer customers.
Impact of Recent Strikes
Commuters crowded onto the Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground, and National Rail services, which remained operational, while others turned to e-bikes or worked from home. Despite the disruption, passengers found travel easier compared to the previous strike in September 2025. The Northern and Victoria lines, typically the busiest on the Tube network, mostly ran with only minor delays. This is because the current dispute involves only RMT train drivers, while station staff and service controllers worked as usual.
Dispute Details
Earlier this week, the RMT told MyLondon that neither side had engaged in negotiations. The union continues to push for a 32-hour, four-day working week for drivers, while TfL maintains its offer of a 35-hour, four-day week. Under TfL's proposal, drivers could still opt for a 36-hour, five-day week, with the extra hour accounting for a paid lunch break on the fifth day.
Upcoming Strike Dates in May and June
Four more 24-hour strikes are scheduled for May and June unless an agreement is reached. These will likely cause similar disruption to this week's strikes. The affected dates are:
- Tuesday, May 19: Strike starts at midday for 24 hours
- Wednesday, May 20: Strike ends at midday
- Thursday, May 21: Strike starts at midday for 24 hours
- Friday, May 22: Strike ends at midday
- Tuesday, June 16: Strike starts at midday for 24 hours
- Wednesday, June 17: Strike ends at midday
- Thursday, June 18: Strike starts at midday for 24 hours
- Friday, June 19: Strike ends at midday
The Telegraph reported on Thursday, April 23, that 60 per cent of Tube drivers reported for work this week, suggesting the strike had less impact than the RMT had hoped. The Aslef union, which also represents some Tube drivers, was not involved in the walkout.
Thomas Turrell, the Conservatives' City Hall transport spokesman, called the strike a "bitter disappointment to the union barons who sought to paralyse London."
