London set for week-long tube strike

London could be hit by a week-long strike on its underground railway the Tube, beginning Friday, after unions and management failed to reach a pay deal.

Thousands of Tube staff are to carry out the network’s biggest strike for three years, with the worst of the disruption expected Monday to Thursday.

Although many office staff would in any case be working from home because of changes to working patterns since the Covid pandemic, the strike is set to add pressure to a range of businesses, notably restaurants and pubs.

Railway workers’ union RMT threatened the walkout on August 21 and talks with Transport for London (TfL) since then have failed to avert the planned action.

Drivers, signalers and maintenance workers are demanding a cut to their 35-hour week, on top of a pay rise totaling 3.4 percent.

“Our members are feeling the strain of extreme shift patterns, giving rise to potential health problems due to fatigue,” an RMT spokesperson said in an emailed statement to AFP.

TfL claims the union’s demands are unaffordable.