Another six months of misery for commuters as London Underground workers vote to continue strikes until May in row over pay

• 95 per cent of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union backed continuing action

Commuters face another six months of misery as London Underground workers voted to continue strikes until May in a long-running row over jobs, pensions and conditions.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said its members on the Tube backed continuing with action by 95 per cent on a turnout of just over half.

The union would now consider its next steps in the campaign.

It comes just a day after hope for progress strengthened – and that rail strikes that have crippled the country could finally come to an end after 18 months after union bosses accepted a pay offer.

But RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘I congratulate our members on delivering another impressive Yes vote in our campaign on pensions, jobs and working conditions on London Underground.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union ( RM T) said its members on the Tube backed continuing with action by 95 per cent on a turnout of just over half. Pictured: Commuters wait to board a tube train in Clapham Common

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said has congratulated his union’s members for the result of their vote

Commuters face another six months of misery as London Underground workers voted to continue strikes until May. Pictured: Commuters pass a closed Victoria Underground station

‘Our union will now consider the results and the next steps in this campaign.’

READ MORE: Train strikes November 2023: Full list of tube cancellations this weekend as London’s Underground and Overground closures grinds city to a halt 

The bitter pay dispute involving railway workers over pay and jobs has sparked travel chaos for months, leaving self-employed workers out of pocket and forcing staff to work from home.

The latest strikes come despite talks between the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, developing a so-called memorandum of understanding (MOU) and setting out a process for a mutually agreed way forward. 

The Rail Delivery Group includes the Elizabeth Line and the London Overground.

That will include a backdated 2022 pay rise for staff and job security guarantees, the RMT said.

According to the BBC, the MOU involves a backdated pay rise for 2022 of 5%, or £1,750, and job security guarantees such as no compulsory redundancies until the end of 2024.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said the MOU was a ‘welcome development’.

RMT members in each of the train operating companies involved in the row will now vote on the suggested agreement.

The bitter pay dispute involving railway workers over pay and jobs has sparked travel chaos for months, leaving self-employed workers out of pocket and forcing staff to work from home. Pictured: Thameslink trains remain in sidings at Peterborough due to industrial action in July

The news comes just a day after hope for progress strengthened – and that rail strikes that have crippled the country could finally come to an end after 18 months after union bosses accepted a pay offer. Pictured: Closed gates at Harrow-on-the-Hill Underground station in north London after a strike by London Underground drivers in March

If accepted, the MOU will terminate the national dispute mandate, creating a pause and respite from industrial action over the Christmas period and into next spring, allowing for negotiations on proposed reforms to take place at local train operating company level, the union said.

A referendum by RMT members working across 14 train operators on whether to accept the agreement, closes on November 30.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said the decision to put the agreement to a vote was ‘a positive step towards resolving this dispute’.

‘We hope RMT members will recognise the benefits, accept this offer and put an end to the RMT´s industrial action,’ the spokesperson said.

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