Londoners are bracing themselves for a week of transport turmoil as the RMT union has called for rolling strike action across the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway, beginning Friday, September 5, 2025. The strikes, which will involve a wide range of staff from drivers and engineers to signallers and control centre workers, are set to bring significant disruption to one of the world’s busiest urban transit networks, with the aim of halting operations on the Tube for seven days.
According to BBC, the action will kick off at 18:00 BST on September 5, when members at the Ruislip depot in west London will walk out for 24 hours. But that’s just the start. From Sunday, September 7, different groups of RMT members will stage walkouts on various days, targeting every Underground line—though the Elizabeth line and London Overground will remain unaffected. The disruption is expected to ripple through the city, impacting commuters, tourists, and even major events like the Coldplay concerts at Wembley Stadium on September 7 and 8, as reported by The Independent.
The RMT union says the roots of the dispute lie in a series of unresolved issues with London Underground (LU) management, including pay, fatigue management, extreme shift patterns, and calls for a reduction in the working week. Eddie Dempsey, RMT’s general secretary, didn’t mince words: “Fatigue and extreme shift rotations are serious issues impacting on our members health and wellbeing – all of which have not been adequately addressed for years by LU management.” He added, “Our members are doing a fantastic job to keep our capital moving and work strenuous shift patterns to make sure Londoners get to their destinations around the clock.”
It’s not just about pay, though that’s certainly a sticking point. The union has expressed frustration over what it describes as a “dismissive approach” from management, which has “fuelled widespread anger and distrust” among the workforce. Dempsey further noted that “outstanding issues around staff travel arrangements” have contributed to an atmosphere where “our members feel like no one is listening to them.”
On the other side of the negotiating table, Transport for London (TfL) insists it has made a fair offer and is working to address staff concerns. A TfL spokesperson told BBC, “We urge the RMT to put our fair, affordable pay offer to their members and to continue to engage with us.” The offer on the table is a 3.4% pay increase, which TfL says is part of ongoing pay discussions. The spokesperson added, “We regularly meet with our trade unions to discuss any concerns that they may have, and we recently met with the RMT to discuss some specific points. We are committed to ensuring our colleagues are treated fairly and, as well as offering a 3.4% pay increase in our ongoing pay discussions, we have made progress on a number of commitments we have made previously.”
But the union remains unsatisfied, particularly on the issue of working hours. The RMT wants to see a reduction in the contractual 35-hour working week, arguing that shorter shifts are essential for the long-term health and well-being of staff. TfL, however, has drawn a firm line, stating that such a reduction “is neither practical nor affordable.” This point was reiterated in statements to both BBC and The Independent, with TfL emphasizing, “We welcome further engagement with our unions about fatigue and rostering across London Underground, but a reduction in the contractual 35-hour working week is neither practical nor affordable.”
So, what exactly is the schedule for the upcoming strikes? The details, as outlined by both news organizations, are as follows:
- On Sunday, September 7, Track Access Controllers, London Underground Control Centre staff, Power/Control teams, and Emergency Response Union (ERU) members will strike.
- On Monday, September 8, and Wednesday, September 10, Fleet, Engineering, Stations, and Trains members will walk out.
- On Tuesday, September 9, and Thursday, September 11, Signallers, Service Control, and ERU members will strike, though ERU members will not participate on the latter date.
- Ruislip depot operational managers will strike from 18:00 BST on September 5 to 17:59 on September 6 over pay.
In addition, workers on the Docklands Light Railway will stage their own strike from September 7 through September 11, in a separate dispute over pay and conditions. This means that the disruption won’t just be confined to the Tube—it will spill over into other parts of London’s public transport system.
For Londoners, the prospect of another week of travel chaos is all too familiar. The last major RMT strike on the Underground took place in November 2024, and while some hoped that recent negotiations would yield a breakthrough, it appears the two sides remain at loggerheads. The union claims its members “voted in overwhelming numbers to take strike action,” underlining the depth of frustration among the workforce.
The impact of the strikes is expected to be widespread. Every Underground line will be affected, disrupting daily commutes and making life difficult for millions. Tourists and event-goers will also feel the pinch, with high-profile gatherings like the Coldplay concerts at Wembley likely to see attendees scrambling for alternative routes. The Elizabeth line and London Overground, however, will continue to run as normal, offering some respite for travelers.
Both sides insist they are open to further talks. Dempsey stated, “RMT will continue to engage LU management with a view to seeking a revised offer in order to reach a negotiated settlement.” TfL, for its part, says it “welcomes further engagement with our unions about fatigue and rostering across London Underground.” Yet, with the strike dates looming and neither side budging on key issues, the odds of a last-minute deal seem slim.
For now, Londoners are advised to plan ahead and brace for a challenging week. Whether you’re a daily commuter, a visitor hoping to catch a show, or simply someone trying to make it across town, the coming days are set to test the patience and resilience of the city. As the dispute unfolds, all eyes will be on both the union and management to see if compromise is possible—or if London’s transport gridlock is set to continue.
With the city’s pulse tied so closely to its transit system, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The coming week will reveal whether dialogue and determination can prevail over division—or if the capital must weather yet another storm of industrial unrest.
