Commuter chaos as striking Tube drivers demand £72K salaries, fewer hours, and travel discounts, crippling London’s Underground.

 

This morning, the RMT-led strike plunged London into sheer turmoil. Tube staff walked out over pay and conditions, leaving the capital’s commuters in a travel nightmare. The union pushes for increasing salaries, already around £72,000 annually, and reducing the working week to four days. They also demand a 75% rail travel discount, despite existing free travel perks for families.

 

The strike, set to last five days, has thrown London’s transport into disarray. With parts of the union striking on different days, commuters face ongoing chaos. The Underground has ground to a halt, forcing desperate Londoners to swarm buses and overfill the few services that remain operational. The Elizabeth Line and Overground, the only lines running normally, struggled under the pressure, with stations overrun by queues.

 

Photos across the city show scenes of closed Tube station entrances and massive bus stop lines. Traffic is gridlocked, worsened by lane closures around central areas like Kings Cross, where the RMT’s picket line is set up. Many commuters found their usual routes blocked or heavily congested.

 

As alternative transport options dwindled, frustrated commuters struggled to reserve Ubers or found hire bikes vanished in seconds. TfL’s website faltered under a flood of users seeking different route information, adding to the general confusion.

While Londoners scrambled for transport, Labour MP Kim Johnson expressed support for the strike, advocating for workers’ rights against fatigue and heavy shift rotations. Strike demands include salary hikes and shortened workweeks but would cost around £200 million, not accounting for the demanded rail discounts.

 

TfL, proposing a 3.4% pay rise, deems reduced hours unaffordable and is deeply disappointed by the strike action. Commuter stories trickling through include being trapped inside shut stations, exacerbating the chaotic atmosphere.

Criticism is mounting towards Mayor Sadiq Khan for his absence during the upheaval. City Hall Conservatives blasted Khan for not addressing the unfolding crisis, questioning his leadership during this critical transport disaster. Keith Prince accused the Mayor of neglecting his duties, focusing on international matters over local transport woes.

 

Since yesterday’s limited service, today marks the first complete Tube shutdown since March 2023, leaving Londoners desperate for a resolution. With no end in sight, the capital waits anxiously for negotiations that might bring back a semblance of normalcy.

 

Key Takeaways:

• Widespread Disruption: The Tube strike, led by the RMT, has caused massive travel chaos in London, with commuters facing severe delays as the Underground grinds to a halt.

• Union Demands: Striking workers demand increased salaries, shorter workweeks, and travel discounts, despite already receiving substantial benefits.

• Leadership Criticism: Mayor Sadiq Khan faces criticism for his lack of visible leadership during the crisis, as Londoners struggle with transport disruptions.

 

 

Source report

 

 

 

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily Mail 2025-09-08

 

 

 

Gaza is "pure carnage".  Parts of Ukraine are "pure carnage".  A tube strike in London is not.  It's merely an inconvenience for some.  There are still buses, taxis, Uber, bicycling and walking.

" Mayor Sadiq Khan faces criticism for his lack of visible leadership during the crisis, as Londoners struggle with transport disruptions"

 

Khan is not a leader, he couldn't lead a dog!

They smell weakness in the mayor/government and are striking while the iron is hot.

 

They'll probably get it as well.

 

London is a toilet. 

 

 

Reeves will give it to them and make people hate this govt even more, if that's possible.

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

" Mayor Sadiq Khan faces criticism for his lack of visible leadership during the crisis, as Londoners struggle with transport disruptions"

 

Khan is not a leader, he couldn't lead a dog!

What dog would want to be led by such a brainless moron??!!

Good grief, the Daily Mail are outdoing themselves with this nonsense!

Why pick an American/Canadian ? to talk about the Tooob 😀

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

" Mayor Sadiq Khan faces criticism for his lack of visible leadership during the crisis, as Londoners struggle with transport disruptions"

 

Khan is not a leader, he couldn't lead a dog!

 

True. His dog leads him.

 

Gee tube strike ....never happened before .

Wouldn't be about more money + less hours would it   ?

Rightwing outrage over working people collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions.

 

 

 

 

AI might soon bring the train drivers careers to a sudden stop. Pushing and pulling a lever is well within the capabilities of even 64k technology. 

16 hours ago, CharlieH said:

This morning, the RMT-led strike plunged London into sheer turmoil. Tube staff walked out over pay and conditions, leaving the capital’s commuters in a travel nightmare.

 

Meanwhile all pubs located in close proximity to tube depots will no doubt be doing a roaring trade over the 5 days of the strike, having in all probability been granted special 24-hour licences for this purpose. Spot the tube worker clutching his or her sore head once the strike is over!

 

 

27 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rightwing outrage over working people collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions.

 

 

 

 

The tube drivers already make 50% more than the London median salary and double the UK median salary.

 

Government workers….especially those with simple jobs that require no education beyond passing their GCSEs with a 4/9 score….don’t deserve the salary they already receive.

It's noticeable that many  countries in Asia manage to become prosperous without having to resort to creating unions.

2 hours ago, Airalee said:

The tube drivers already make 50% more than the London median salary and double the UK median salary.

 

Government workers….especially those with simple jobs that require no education beyond passing their GCSEs with a 4/9 score….don’t deserve the salary they already receive.

What’s wrong with working people making a good wage?

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

What’s wrong with working people making a good wage?

Median is a good wage.

 

Their salaries should be decreased and they should be happy they have a job.

 

Better yet….fire them all.

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rightwing outrage over working people collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions.

 

 

 

 

Outrage from working people who can't get to work due to being blackmailed by greedy unions.

In case you're not aware the train drivers were awarded a 27% increase when the clown show Labour government came into office last year, duly bowing to their union paymasters.

10 minutes ago, roquefort said:

Outrage from working people who can't get to work due to being blackmailed by greedy unions.

In case you're not aware the train drivers were awarded a 27% increase when the clown show Labour government came into office last year, duly bowing to their union paymasters.

Wasn't that ASLEF train drivers, not RMT tube train drivers?

Back to the 70s... slow clap Labour.

After all these years in opposition, you have no clear plan on what to do, other than be authoritarian socialists and let the modern-day Arthur Scargills get their way... facepalm.

Your tenure in power will be short... Venezuela here we come.

A $100 small computer can do the job of any tube driver, and never want an increase in salary, which is zero.

17 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

A $100 small computer can do the job of any tube driver, and never want an increase in salary, which is zero.

You do realise it's not that simple? I hope you do.

Estimated costs to retrofit the network to be autonomous: the Central line alone is estimated at £10 billion, with Bakerloo and Piccadilly each in the £4–5 billion range. That's three lines.

Not really a $100 computer is it?

12 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rightwing outrage over working people collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions.

 

 

 

 

Does the taxpayer have a say? 

2 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

Does the taxpayer have a say? 

Did you have a say in the Tories spunking £70 billion or so on HS2 to get people from Old Oak Common to Birmingham 14 minutes faster and that is the sole benefit?

Any outrage over that? Or do taxpayers only need a say on train drivers' pay? Why?
 

1 hour ago, CanadaSam said:

A $100 small computer can do the job of any tube driver, and never want an increase in salary, which is zero.

Sam my son likes playing with trains !

Looks like the UK needs Trump!

5 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Did you have a say in the Tories spunking £70 billion or so on HS2 to get people from Old Oak Common to Birmingham 14 minutes faster and that is the sole benefit?

Any outrage over that? Or do taxpayers only need a say on train drivers' pay? Why?
 

I'm not supirsed.   This is how government functions. 

17 hours ago, Airalee said:

The tube drivers already make 50% more than the London median salary and double the UK median salary.

 

Government workers….especially those with simple jobs that require no education beyond passing their GCSEs with a 4/9 score….don’t deserve the salary they already receive.

 

Shocking isn't it.

 

The maximum salary of a teacher in Inner London is £62,496 and they need 2 university degrees to get that.

 

Tube drivers need GCSE English and Maths (grade unspecified) and NVQ level 2 during training.

18 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rightwing outrage over working people collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, gotta admit working 35 hrs a week is too much, 32 hrs is needed or staff get fatigued

12 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Back to the 70s... slow clap Labour.

After all these years in opposition, you have no clear plan on what to do, other than be authoritarian socialists and let the modern-day Arthur Scargills get their way... facepalm.

Your tenure in power will be short... Venezuela here we come.

Scargill is a strong man who exudes leadership skills and understood the job that he once did, as did his ancestors. He didn't strike for 32 hr weeks, 75% travel concessions and almost £100k salaries like this lot of wimps