A series of six 24-hour strikes by drivers on the London Underground has been announced, with the first strike set to take place on 24-25 March, after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union voted to oppose the introduction of a four-day working week with condensed hours.
While walkouts are unlikely to result in a total network shutdown, their impact could still result in costing the sector millions of pounds in lost revenue, according to trade body UKHospitality.
“Tube strikes have a devastating impact on London’s hospitality businesses, with commuter footfall almost non-existent and families cancelling plans to visit,” says Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality chair.
“The cost of strikes can stretch into the millions – as we saw when strikes hit the sector a couple of years ago. It’s not just lost sales, but the impact on hospitality staff, who can no longer get into work.
“I urge all parties to continue negotiations and reach a solution that averts these damaging strikes.”
There is a further strike planned for this month, on 26–27 March, followed by two strikes in April (21-22, 23-24) and two in May (19-20, 21-22).