London Underground, Docklands Light Railway Workers Plan Weeklong September Strikes

London Underground workers, represented by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), have announced a series of strikes starting September 5 that will last for seven days, aiming to address disputes over pay, fatigue management, shift patterns, and a reduction in the working week. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) workers will also strike during the week beginning September 7 over similar pay and conditions issues. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey emphasized the serious impact of fatigue and extreme shift rotations on workers' health and wellbeing, highlighting longstanding unresolved concerns and a growing atmosphere of distrust due to management's dismissive approach. Transport for London (TfL) responded by stating it regularly meets with unions, has offered a 3.4% pay increase, and made progress on prior commitments, though it considers reducing the 35-hour contractual week impractical and unaffordable. Both sides express willingness to continue negotiations in hopes of reaching a settlement, but the strikes are expected to cause significant disruption to London's transport network. The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between frontline workers seeking better conditions and management balancing operational constraints and financial limitations.