Tube strikes threaten West End footfall
The New West End Company, which represents around 600 businesses across the West End, voiced its concern that this strike action will cause further disruption to the recovery of the area
A proposed six month strike action across London’s Night Tube is set to bring disruption to businesses across London’s West End in the coming months.
Tube union RMT confirmed that strike action would go ahead every weekend on the Night Tube from today (7 January) through to June in an “on-going fight to prevent the ripping up of staffing arrangements that would wreck the work life balance of drivers”.
Throughout every weekend, tube drivers on the Central and Victoria lines will not work between 8:30pm until 8:00am the following day.
The New West End Company, which represents around 600 businesses across the West End, voiced its concern that this strike action will cause further disruption to the recovery of the area.
Jace Tyrrell, CEO at New West End Company, said: “Following another challenging festive period for hospitality and leisure businesses we hope that the start of 2022 will bring optimism and footfall, however the new year joy has been depleted by the threat of even more disruptions caused by the planned Night Tube strikes.
“The proposed six month strike action threatens the West End’s night-time economy at a critical point when many businesses will be looking to recover from the impact of the pandemic. We strongly encourage RMT to call off these strikes in order to give viable hospitality businesses in the capital the best possible chance of survival.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “As the New Year gets under way our battle for workplace justice for tube staff steps up a gear with a new phase of action running from tomorrow through to the summer.
“If London Underground and the Mayor thought this fight for progressive and family friendly working practices was going away they need to think again. It’s the failure of LU and Sadiq Khan to address the grievances at the heart of the dispute that leaves us no option but to confirm the programme of action goes ahead as planned.”
He added: “RMT has repeatedly put forward cost neutral proposals that would repair the damage unleashed by deleting 200 driver posts and which would dig LU out of this mess. They have ignored us and that approach will have severe consequences for Londoners through to the summer. We remain available for further talks.”
