London’s transport network faces significant disruption as approximately 10,000 London Underground workers, represented by the RMT union, initiate a series of rolling strikes starting Sunday evening, September 7, 2025.
The industrial action, which will halt most tube services from Monday through Thursday, stems from unresolved disputes over pay, fatigue management, shift patterns, and demands for a shorter 35-hour working week.
Transport for London (TfL) has urged passengers to check travel updates and complete journeys by 6 p.m. on Sunday, anticipating severe congestion on alternative transport options like buses, the Elizabeth Line, and London Overground, which will continue to operate.
The strikes are expected to have a substantial economic toll, with the Centre for Economics and Business Research estimating losses exceeding £230 million, accounting only for direct impacts on workers and commuters.
This figure excludes broader effects like reduced productivity or decreased retail spending.
The cultural sector is also affected, with high-profile events disrupted; British rock band Coldplay and U.S. singer Post Malone have rescheduled concerts at Wembley Stadium due to anticipated travel chaos.
TfL’s chief operating officer, Claire Mann, emphasized the need for travelers to plan ahead, noting that little to no tube service is expected during the strike period.
The RMT union argues that a shorter working week is both fair and feasible, citing TfL’s £166 million surplus last year and a £10 billion annual operating budget.
An RMT spokesperson highlighted the strain on workers, stating, “There are 2,000 fewer staff working on London Underground since 2018 and our members are feeling the strain of extreme shift patterns, giving rise to potential health problems due to fatigue.”
TfL, however, maintains that reducing the working week is “neither practical nor affordable,” offering instead a 3.4% pay rise aligned with RPI inflation.
Despite last-ditch negotiations, the union rejected TfL’s plea to cancel the strikes, which will see depot managers, train staff, station workers, signallers, and service controllers walk out on staggered days, bringing the Underground to a standstill until Friday, September 12.