TfL Ref: FOI-2872-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 14 March 2022, asking for information about strikes on the TfL network.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:
The number of strikes on the following TfL networks: The London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and TfL Rail - including details of why the strikes took place, and date & time information. For the years: 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-present.
A strike is what is normally referred to as a withdrawal of labour by an organised group of employees in protest at the organisation’s action or proposed course of action in a particular matter. The impact of any strike action taken against the organisation varies and is dependent on the nature of the dispute, the number of unions involved and where the strike has been called. Therefore the impact of the strikes listed below vary from affecting the whole Tube network to localised action affecting only part of the Tube network.
We encourage unions to engage in discussions to resolve any disputes that may result in industrial action. When it has not been possible to prevent industrial action, we roll out well prepared operational plans to ensure that services operate safely at all times under busier than normal conditions. We deploy additional staff (including managers and revenue control staff) to assist local staff and provide advice to customers. We issue communications to inform customers that services will be busier than usual. Extra bus and river services are operated to help people get around, and we continue to update the TfL website as well as our other social media outlets which we encourage our customers to check frequently to see how their journeys could be affected.
We have answered a previous FOI request about strikes on our network between the period 2014/15 and January 2019 which is published at the following link: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-2596-1819 In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
Please see below for details of more recent strikes which have taken place on London Underground between 2019 up to the date of your request.
| “Working Timetable 44/45 (WT44/45) Train Operators, Bakerloo Line - London Underground” |
RMT |
London Underground |
RMT Strike action on 12.00 hours on 21/02/2020 until 11.59 hours on 22/02/20 and 12.00 hours on Sunday 23/02/20 until 11.59 hours on Monday 24/02/20. |
| Night Tube |
RMT |
London Underground |
26-27/11/2021, 03-04/12/21, 10-11/12/21 and 17-18/12/21 - ongoing. |
| Pensions, jobs and conditions |
RMT |
London Underground |
Tuesday 01/03/22 from 00:01 to 23:59 & Thursday 03/03/22 from 00:01 to 23:59 |
Please note, for Night Tube, this dispute is ongoing and industrial action continues to be undertaken.
There has not been a strike on the DLR since March 2018.
There has not been a strike on London Overground or TfL Rail, but the performance of these services has been impacted by strikes on London Underground.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
