A five-day strike by staff on the London Underground network (the so-called Tube) caused rush-hour chaos, closing stations and forcing thousands to work from home or seek alternative transport, AFP reported. Long queues formed in front of overcrowded buses, while many commuters set out on foot or by bicycle.

Transport for London (TfL) warned that service would be limited or completely suspended — the first such large-scale strike in more than two years. Lauren, a 53-year-old construction administrative worker, said she would have to walk several kilometers to her job in central London instead of taking her usual train. “It’s a real inconvenience. I have no sympathy (for the drivers). They need to get back to work,” she said.

The strike was organized by the RMT union, which is demanding better pay and working conditions. In addition to train drivers, staff responsible for signaling and maintenance joined the strike after rejecting TfL’s offer of a 3.4% pay rise. Workers are also demanding a reduction in the working week. “We are not striking to harm small businesses or the public,” said an RMT spokesperson. “This strike is happening because of the intransigent approach of TfL management and their refusal to even consider a modest cut in the working week.”

TfL expressed “deep disappointment,” with Clare Mann, Chief Operating Officer, stating that demands for a shorter working week were “unaffordable and impractical.” Concert organizers were forced to postpone two shows by American performer Post Malone at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “Without Tube service it is impossible to get people safely to and from the concert,” Live Nation UK posted on X.

Trains on other networks were running but often disrupted — overcrowding forced some lines shared with the Tube to skip stations. Amita, a civil servant, said she traveled by train to London Bridge station but then had to walk another 45 minutes to her office. Seventeen-year-old student Aida explained she would be late for her first day of classes and was already on disciplinary notice: “If I’m late, I could be expelled from the course.”

The strike is the first major action against the Underground since the Labour government of Keir Starmer took office in July last year. The government is already slipping in opinion polls and suffered a serious blow in recent days when Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned over unpaid taxes related to the purchase of a new home. | BGNES