London Underground services remained suspended on the fifth day of a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, leaving the capital facing widespread travel disruption and prompting many commuters to seek alternatives, including a sharp rise in e-bike use.
The strike, called by RMT members over working hours and pay, has halted Tube operations across the city this week. The union has rejected a 3.4% pay offer from Transport for London (TfL) and pressed for a reduction in its members' 35-hour working week — a demand TfL has said is unaffordable.
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the RMT, called on London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to convene a summit to try to resolve the dispute. "Instead of going on social media, instead of the old tired clichés, telling trades unionists to get round the table, you're the mayor of London, you're the chair of Transport for London," Dempsey said. "Stop going on social media, invite us to the meeting, let's have a discussion, because I want to know what is going on in London." He warned of further strike action if no resolution is reached, saying the union "takes no pleasure in causing disruption" but "makes no apology for fighting for our members."
A spokesperson for the mayor's office said Khan "has ensured TfL is ready to restart talks" with the union in a bid to resolve the dispute. TfL and the mayor have framed the 35-hour-week demand as financially unsustainable given the authority's budget constraints.
The industrial action has reshaped travel patterns across the city. Micromobility operator Lime reported more than a 50% increase in e-bike trips during rush-hour periods on Monday and Tuesday of the strike, a rise that climbed to roughly three-quarters by Wednesday. Commuters also reported heavier-than-usual loads on buses, increased use of river services and greater congestion on roads as people switched from the Tube.
Transport disruptions have compounded routine pressures on London's transport network, with residents and employers adjusting working arrangements and travel plans. The RMT has framed the dispute as part of a broader campaign to protect pay and working conditions for transport workers, while TfL and city officials have cautioned that significant contract changes would carry major cost implications.
As the strike extended into its fifth day, union leaders and city officials were under pressure to agree to talks that could lead to a settlement. The mayor's office indicated openness to renewed negotiations, and the RMT's public call for a summit signaled the union's willingness to pursue a negotiated outcome, provided its core demands are addressed. Further developments will depend on whether both sides agree to a formal meeting and whether either side modifies its position on pay or working hours.