London Underground begins first full-stage strike since 2023 as network set to shut down from 6pm
RMT walkout over pay and hours sees limited service today and a planned total shutdown until Friday, with TfL offering a 3.4% pay rise and rejecting reduced hours as unaffordable
London's Tube network began a full-stage strike on Sunday, with limited services operating earlier in the day before Transport for London (TfL) said the entire network will close from 6pm and remain shut until about 8am on Friday, Sept. 12. The stoppage is the first of its kind since 2023 and follows an RMT-led dispute over pay, working hours and other conditions.
The RMT union has demanded a cash pay increase and a cut in weekly working hours from 35 to 32. TfL has offered a 3.4% pay rise and said a reduction in hours would be "unaffordable and impractical." TfL director of customer operations for the Tube, Nick Dent, urged the union to call off the strikes and reopen talks, saying management was prepared to continue discussions after four meetings in the previous two weeks.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the dispute is driven by fatigue, extreme shift rotations and unresolved staff travel arrangements, arguing those issues have not been adequately addressed and have damaged trust between staff and management. "Our members are doing a fantastic job to keep our capital moving," Dempsey said when the strike was announced, adding staff were not seeking a "King's ransom" but measures to protect health and wellbeing.
TfL warned commuters that alternative services are likely to be extremely busy as passengers shift to buses, London Overground, trams and other modes. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which serves east and southeast London, will also stop entirely on Tuesday and Thursday because of a separate dispute, further constraining options for some journeys.
Transport operators signalled some services may be unable to call at stations shared with the Underground because of congestion. Commuters and businesses face several days of disruption in central London and across the capital, with roads expected to be busier and demand for river and suburban rail services set to rise.
The strike marks a renewed escalation after a period of high-profile transport industrial action in 2023. The last full-network shutdown occurred in March 2023 under then-RMT leadership. In January of the same year, Greater London Authority funds were used to avert a walkout; no comparable intervention has been announced for the current dispute.
TfL has framed its 3.4% pay offer against the organisation's financial constraints, arguing that substantial reductions in working hours would increase costs and complicate operations. The RMT has said the combination of pay, rostering and travel issues has left members with little choice but to press for stronger settlement terms.
Talks between RMT and London Underground management have continued around the clock in recent weeks, but union leaders proceeded with strike action after voting to reject management offers. TfL said it remained open to discussions and that it would implement contingency plans to support those who must travel, while urging commuters to avoid unnecessary journeys.
The disruption is likely to have economic effects across the capital, with businesses, retailers and services that rely on commuter footfall expected to face reduced trade during the shutdown. City authorities and transport operators will monitor passenger flows and service restoration closely as talks continue and the strike period unfolds.