London Underground workers announce six-day strike

Workers on the London Underground will strike for almost a week between 23 July and 28 July.

The RMT Union said staff would walk out as part of a long-running row over pensions, job cuts and changes to working conditions.

The union has not yet confirmed which sections of the tube will be impacted on certain days but said the action was to protest changes which could see 600 jobs axed and pension arrangements altered.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "This week of action will shut down the London Underground and show just how important the work of our members is."

Glynn Barton, chief operating officer at Transport for London, said: "We are disappointed that the RMT has announced strike action on this range of issues that we have been attempting to discuss with them openly and cooperatively. We are urging the union to reconsider and engage with us to discuss the issues and seek a resolution.

"There are no current proposals to change pension arrangements and, although we are discussing with union colleagues a range of proposals to improve how London Underground operates, no employee will lose their job or be asked to work additional hours."

It comes after union Aslef announced train drivers will refuse to work overtime for a second week from 17 July to 22 July after disruption this week.

Hospitality businesses have been hit hard by industrial action, with operators telling The Caterer they had lost thousands of pounds worth of bookings during previous strikes.

Bar business Nightcap estimated it had lost around £1.2m in earnings during 13 days of rail strikes at the end of last year, while pub group Fuller's said 2022 industrial action hat cost it £4m.