Due to the night subway service dispute between RMT and Transport for London, five lines will be affected from Friday

Last modified on Friday, November 26, 2021 02.03 EST

The 24-hour subway strike on Friday is the first of two days and eight nights of planned strike action, which may bring chaos to London on Christmas Eve.

As RMT workers will strike at 04.30 on Friday, the five routes that will be affected are the Victoria, Central, Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly routes.

The controversy is that night drivers must work because night subway services have been reintroduced for the first time since the pandemic began.

Transport for London (TfL) stated that the strike will result in "almost no service in some places" on Waterloo and the city line, and Waterloo and city lines that use Central line drivers may also be hit.

RMT stated that the work roster imposed on subway drivers threatens work-life balance. TfL stated that other unions have agreed to these changes, which will result in drivers having about four weekend night shifts each year.

The strike will also affect the resumption of night subways on Victoria and Central Links. The driver was told not to work from 8pm on Saturday to 4am on Sunday.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch stated that the strike was about "tearing up popular and family-friendly agreements that helped make the initial night subway so successful."

"Instead, the company wants to cut costs and concentrate all drivers in a pool where they can be kicked from pillar to position at the request of management."

He added that despite the talks and direct talks at Acas, it is clear that the boss of the London Underground "has no interest in the well-being of employees or the services provided to passengers."

"If the subway management does not lay off dedicated night subway staff and perfect and feasible arrangements to reduce staffing and costs, then this strike action and the serious consequences before Christmas can be avoided."

The union stated that even at this later stage, it can still conduct further negotiations.

Nick Dent, director of customer operations for the London Underground, stated that the strike action in the RMT plan is “unnecessary. Although there is no unemployment and drivers have greater flexibility and job certainty, it will threaten London’s growth. Resurgence in the epidemic".

He added that the transportation authority “is willing to cooperate with RMT and review the changes after the night subway service resumes. This review can only be successful if RMT agrees to meet with us and withdraw its proposed actions, so that we can all see these How change will work in practice."

TfL warned that as customers seek alternative routes, this action may mean that services on routes not affected by the strike (Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan) are busier. The Thameslink service and buses through central London are also expected to be busier than usual.

November 26th 04:30-November 27th 04:29 Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria.

November 27th 20:30-November 28th 04:29 Central and Victoria.

December 3rd 20:30-December 4th 04:29 Central and Victoria.

December 4th 20:30-December 5th 04:29 Central and Victoria.

December 10th 20:30-December 11th 04:29 Central and Victoria.

December 11th 20:30-December 12th 04:29 Central and Victoria.

December 17th 20:30-December 18th 04:29 Central and Victoria.

December 18th 04:30-December 19th 04:29 Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria.