UK: Unionized London Underground rail personnel plan series of strikes in London Nov. 1-8

London Underground (Tube) rail staff affiliated with the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) and the Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) unions have called for a series of strikes Nov. 1-8. The purpose of the strike action is to demand higher wages and improved working conditions.

Different rail workers will hold work stoppages and overtime strikes on various days over the given time frame:

• 18:00 Nov.1-17:59 Nov. 2: Engineering and maintenance staff to strike, and will not work overtime hours until Nov. 8.

• 06:59 Nov. 3-06:59 Nov. 4: Track access controllers, control center, and power/control staff to strike.

• 00:01-23:59 Nov. 4: Emergency Response Unit (ERU) staff to strike.

• 00:01-23:59 Nov. 5: Fleet, engineering, stations, and trains staff to strike.

• 00:01-23:59 Nov. 6: Signalers and service controllers to strike.

• 00:01-23:59 Nov. 7: Fleet, engineering, stations, and trains staff (including operators, instructors, and managers) to strike.

• 00:01-23:59 Nov. 8: Signalers and service controllers to strike.

Further ASLEF and RTU strikes are slated to take place Nov. 12. ASLEF managers will also not work overtime hours Nov. 3-16.

The strikes will likely cause significant disruptions to underground rail services throughout London. The strike may prompt increased traffic congestion and demand for alternative public transportation. Lingering disruptions could also occur in the hours when no strikes are planned and in the days following Nov. 8 due to continued overtime strikes. Striking workers may protest outside rail stations and other transport hubs; heightened security and localized transport disruptions are likely near any demonstrations that take shape.