Londoners are facing yet another week of commuting headaches as a major Tube strike looms.
The walkout, set to last six days, is expected to cause widespread disruption and leave businesses counting the cost, with economists warning it could hit the capital by more than £230 million.
The strike is being driven by union demands for shorter working hours and higher pay—something Transport for London (TfL) insists is simply not affordable given its current financial struggles.
What the Union Wants
The RMT union is pushing for a 32-hour working week—three hours less than now—combined with a pay rise.
TfL has pushed back, saying the request is “neither practical nor affordable,” particularly with the organisation already sitting on nearly £13 billion of debt.
Instead, TfL has offered a 3.4% pay rise, calling it fair and reasonable.
But the RMT says that’s not enough and is moving forward with strike action.
When the Strike Will Hit
Union members, including signallers and maintenance staff, are preparing to walk out from Sunday.
The biggest impact will be felt between Monday and Thursday, when Londoners have been warned to expect “little or no service” on the Tube.
On top of that, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) services will also be hit next Tuesday and Thursday due to a separate RMT pay dispute.
Blame Game at City Hall
Some politicians are pointing fingers at London’s leadership.
Conservative Assembly leader Susan Hall criticised Mayor Sadiq Khan, accusing him of being too soft with the unions.
“A strong leader would have drawn a line in the sand long ago,” she said, adding that the unions are “holding London to ransom” while businesses and commuters suffer.
Cleaners Threaten to Join the Walkout
The RMT is also turning up the heat by threatening to ballot Tube cleaners over their own pay dispute.
Cleaners, employed by private contractor ABM, have complained that they don’t receive sick pay and only earn the London Living Wage.
Union chief Eddie Dempsey argued that cleaners are treated like “second-class workers,” despite keeping the Underground safe and sanitary for millions of passengers. Unless their concerns are addressed, more strike action could follow.
TfL Pushes Back
TfL’s director of customer operations, Nick Dent, emailed staff urging them not to join the strike.
He warned that cutting working hours would be financially unsustainable and would cost “tens of millions of pounds.”
He added that TfL already offers competitive pay and conditions compared to similar organisations and said the company is serious about tackling staff fatigue, but not in a way that involves slashing hours.
The Cost to the Capital
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) estimates the strike could directly cost around £230 million, with about 700,000 working days lost across TfL staff and London commuters.
And that’s just the beginning—analysts say the wider impact could be much greater.
Businesses will see reduced productivity as workers arrive late or fail to make it in at all, while shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues are likely to take a big hit from lower footfall.
To make matters worse, road congestion is expected to spike as people turn to cars, buses, and taxis, piling even more pressure on London’s already clogged streets.
A Week of Uncertainty Ahead
With neither side showing signs of backing down, Londoners are preparing for a rough week.
For commuters, businesses, and the city’s economy, the impact of this strike is likely to ripple far beyond just missed trains.