The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers' Union (RMT) has confirmed it is planning up to six months of strikes on the night tube in 2022, running every weekend from January to June.
Its members working on the Central and Victoria lines will take strike action every weekend from 7 January 2022, by not booking on for any shifts commencing from 8.30pm on any Friday until 8am the next day, and any shifts commencing from 8.30pm on any Saturday until 8am the next day.
At present, the Central and Victoria lines are the only two night tube services operating. In October 2021, TfL said that the service would be reinstated on other lines "as soon as possible", though these strikes, TfL's financial problems, and any impending Covid-19 restrictions may delay that.
At time of writing, there are no plans for ASLEF or TSSA union members to partake in the strikes, which means that TfL is likely to be able to run some night tube services while the strikes are ongoing, though trains will be far less frequent.
These are the latest in a series of night tube strikes — most recently affecting the first weekends the nocturnal service was up and running again after Covid-19 lockdowns stopped the service.
Public support for these strikes is likely to be low, at a time when safety campaigners are asking for more to be done to protect Londoners moving around the city at night. A lack of night tube services is also likely to hamper the recovery of London's night-time economy, as hospitality businesses fight to recoup financial losses from Covid lockdowns and severely diminished pre-Christmas trade.
Why are night tube staff striking?
RMT Union members working on the night tube are striking due to "an on-going fight to prevent the ripping up of staffing arrangements that would wreck the work life balance of drivers." The issue stems from 'day' tube drivers also having to work a set number of night tube shifts every year.
The RMT has said that it is available for further talks with TfL and Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Until that happens and a satisfactory resolution is reached, the strikes will go ahead. The RMT may also extend the strikes to other tube lines if no resolution is found.
