The next London Underground strikes are like that one friend who says they’ll be there in five minutes—vague, unreliable, and always causing chaos. As of now, no official dates have been set for the next big walkout, but history says never bet against a surprise. The unions and Transport for London (TfL) are currently locked in a dance as graceful as a toddler on roller skates.
Strikes usually happen when talks break down over pensions, jobs, or pay. You can bet your last Oyster card that if you hear “industrial action” on the evening news, it’s time to dig out your walking shoes.
The Usual Suspects: Who Walks First?
The RMT union is the rockstar of strikes—they love a good walkout more than a tourist loves a selfie on the Jubilee line. They’ll announce a strike roughly 14 days in advance, just enough time to panic but not enough to plan. The TSSA and ASLEF usually join in for the fun, like the backup dancers in a really inconvenient music video.
Surprising fact: the Tube has had over 50 strikes since 2010. That’s more than the number of times I’ve forgotten my travel mug. If strikes were a sport, London would win gold every Olympics.
