Tube strike: Six London Underground lines disrupted

London Underground tube drivers have launched a 24-hour strike affecting six London Underground lines in a dispute over changing shift patterns.

Drivers walked out at 4:30am on Friday, affecting the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria lines and Waterloo & City, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said.

There will be a limited service across all lines on Friday, with further strike action due on Saturday evening on the Central and Victoria lines.

The strike comes on the weekend the Night Tube was due to restart after it was suspended last year because of the pandemic.

RMT says Transport for London (TfL) has "ripped up" an agreement on Night Tube driving by making night shifts compulsory for all drivers.

TfL said no jobs are being lost and the changes mean drivers would work around four Night Tube weekends a year.

With picket lines mounted outside some Tube stations, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said Tube drivers were angry about "damaging and unacceptable working practices."

"This action was wholly avoidable if LU bosses hadn’t attempted to bulldoze through arrangements that abolished the Night Tube driver grade, lumping everyone into a central pool where they can be shunted about at will in a drive to cut costs."

Friday's strike is the first of 10 planned by the RMT to "defend progressive and family friendly working practices."

Tube bosses described the action as "unnecessary".

Nick Dent, director of London Underground customer operations, said: "By making changes to Tube driver rosters we have provided greater flexibility for drivers as well as permanent work and job security, something welcomed by all other unions."

Andy Lord, managing director of London Underground, said: "We are currently running 58% of our usual scheduled service, despite the RMT’s strike action on five London Underground lines today, but there are significant impacts on the affected lines.

"This frustrating strike action is the last thing that London needs as it recovers from the pandemic and we have done everything we can to get this unnecessary action called off."