Tube drivers in London are to strike across 12 days in the spring in a row over a four-day working week, the RMT has announced.
The union said that London Underground bosses were pushing ahead with plans to condense the number of working days in the week, despite their members rejecting the proposals.
The plans have been warmly supported by the train drivers’ union, Aslef, which welcomes the extra days off.
However, the RMT said it had concerns about shift lengths, unacceptable working-time arrangements and the potential impact on fatigue and safety.
The RMT said it had about 1,800 driver members, believed to be 40% to 50% of drivers working on the tube.
There will be six 24-hour weekday strikes, starting at noon on 24 and 26 March, 21 and 23 April, and 19 and 21 May.
The union said its members would also be instructed to no longer use any electronic devices issued by London Underground, including iPads.
Eddie Dempsey, the RMT’s general secretary, said: “London Underground is trying to force through major changes to working patterns that have already been rejected by our members.
“We are clear that these proposals raise serious concerns around fatigue, safety and work-life balance.”
Dempsey said there was still time to avoid industrial action, but he said the union “will take strike action if we cannot get a negotiated settlement”.
The union staged a week-long strike last September across the London Underground – on that occasion to reduce the length of the working week.
Finn Brennan, a district organiser in London for Aslef, said the strike was bizarre. He said the proposals remained voluntary, adding: “It will be the first time in the history of the trade union movement that a union has voted to strike against a shorter week and fewer days at work.”
Transport for London said the threatened strikes were “completely unnecessary and will have a serious impact on London’s businesses and commuters”.
A TfL spokesperson added: “We shared our proposal for a four-day working week with our trade unions last year. Since then, we have been engaging with them on how best to implement the new working pattern.”
They said the plans would apply to only the Bakerloo line and would be voluntary, with those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern able to do so. They added: “These changes will help us to improve reliability, improve our ability to flexibly deploy our drivers and enable us to offer a modern and efficient service while creating no additional cost.”
