London Underground, DLR Staff Begin Week-Long Strike Over Pay, Conditions

London Underground and Docklands Light Railway workers, represented by the RMT union, are set to begin rolling strikes starting September 5, lasting for seven days, over disputes concerning pay, fatigue management, extreme shift patterns, and working conditions. The union rejected a 3.4% pay increase offered by Transport for London (TfL), arguing it does not keep pace with inflation and fails to address broader issues such as unsocial shifts and health impacts. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey emphasized that the strikes are driven by concerns over staff wellbeing and longstanding grievances, including unresolved issues around staff travel arrangements, which have created distrust toward management. TfL maintains that its pay offer is fair and affordable and has made some progress on rostering and fatigue concerns but insists a reduction in the contractual 35-hour working week is neither practical nor affordable. The strikes are expected to cause significant disruption in London, coinciding with major events like Coldplay's Wembley concert and Premier League matches, raising concerns about the economic impact on the city's already sluggish growth. Both sides have expressed willingness to continue negotiations, with City Hall urging a resolution to avoid widespread disruption.