London Tube Strike Causes Widespread Disruption, Costs UK Economy £230 Million

London's Underground network is facing severe disruption due to a five-day strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), affecting all major Tube lines and parts of the Docklands Light Railway. The strike, which began with limited service on Sunday and escalated to a full shutdown on Monday, is driven by union demands for a 75% discount on rail journeys, a reduction of working hours from 35 to 32 per week, and better pay conditions, with TfL offering a 3.4% pay rise but rejecting the shortened workweek as unaffordable. TfL's director of customer operations, Nick Dent, emphasized the financial strain such demands would impose, while the union argues that a shorter workweek would reduce fatigue and improve staff health, highlighting TfL's recent financial surplus. Commuters have experienced significant delays, longer journeys, and overcrowded alternative transport options such as buses and overground trains, with many reporting doubled travel times and difficulty reaching work. The strike is expected to cost the British economy approximately £230 million, with political figures blaming leadership weaknesses for the ongoing industrial action. Despite calls for further talks and warnings about the economic impact, the strike is set to continue through Friday, leaving Londoners facing an unprecedented commute disruption.