Tube drivers approve strike over four‑day week

Tube drivers who are members of the RMT union have voted in favour of strike action to oppose the introduction of a four-day week.

No dates have yet been confirmed for when the walkouts will take place.

An RMT spokesperson said: "Our members will not accept TfL's plan to condense the working week for Tube drivers where shift patterns will become unpredictable leading to fatigue and increasing safety risks."

TfL said the change would be voluntary with no reduction in contractual hours and would improve reliability at no extra cost.

The RMT spokesperson added that it was now up to TfL "to take our members seriously".

They added: "A majority of Tube drivers when asked have rejected these proposals.

"And our members are prepared to take industrial action if there is no change in course by TfL."

RMT bosses have to give Transport for London (TfL) two weeks' notice of strike action.

A TfL spokesperson said it had shared its proposal for a four-day working week with trade unions last year and how to best implement the new working pattern.

"We have started talking with our unions about how to implement a four-day working week for train drivers on the Bakerloo line only.

"The changes will be voluntary, there will be no reduction in contractual hours, and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern will be able to do so.

"These changes will help us to improve reliability, improve our ability to flexibly deploy our drivers and enable us to offer a modern and efficient service while creating no additional cost."

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