# Strikes bring London’s transport network to a halt
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-08-19
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: London Transport Strike Disruption - Latest News
Meta Description: London's transport system paralyzed by strikes over pay and conditions, leading to major disruptions. Workers across industries planning future industrial
URL: https://financedigest.com/strikes-bring-londons-transport-network-to-a-halthtml

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LONDON (Reuters) -London’s transport network ground to a halt on Friday as train and bus workers held strikes over pay and conditions, the latest in a summer of labour market disputes as double-digit inflation eats into wages.

All London Underground and Overground train lines were suspended or part suspended and dozens of bus routes in the west of the city were disrupted, Transport for London (TfL) said.

Tens of thousands of workers from the wider national rail network walked out on Thursday and will do so again on Saturday.

Commuters across the country have already endured disruption from rail strikes this year, organised by unions demanding pay and conditions for their members that better reflect the [soaring cost](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-other-retailers-revamp-free-shipping-as-costs-soar.html "Amazon, other retailers revamp ‘free’ shipping as costs soar") of living caused by energy price-driven inflation.

Data showed inflation at 10.1% in July, the highest since February 1982, as rising energy costs resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hit consumers directly through their [household bills](https://www.financedigest.com/44-of-uk-households-are-worried-theyll-have-to-foot-the-bill-for-net-zero.html "44% of UK Households are Worried They’ll Have to Foot the Bill for Net Zero"), and indirectly through rising food prices.

That has led to a standoff between firms, who say rising costs and falling demand limit their room to negotiate, unions who say their workers cannot [afford to live](https://www.financedigest.com/still-living-at-home-a-third-of-the-nation-cant-afford-to-rent.html "Still living at home? A third of the nation can’t afford to rent") and the government, which is worried that big wage increases may fuel inflation.

We don’t want to be in a 1970s vicious circle where you end up with [salaries increasing](https://www.financedigest.com/top-10-financial-services-roles-set-for-highest-salary-increases-in-2018.html "Top 10 financial services roles set for highest salary increases in 2018"), inflation increasing and so on and so forth. You never get out of this,” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC.

The RMT said the underground strike was in [response to a lack of assurances about jobs and pensions](https://www.financedigest.com/pension-life-slams-government-and-regulator-in-its-response-to-scam-consultation.html "Pension Life slams government and regulator in its response to scam consultation") from TfL. In a letter to Shapps, the [union accused him of waging](https://www.financedigest.com/ita-airways-averts-strike-after-wage-increase-accord-with-unions.html "ITA Airways averts strike after wage increase accord with unions") ideological war against rail workers.

TfL is itself in prolonged negotiations with the government after the expiration of an [emergency state funding](https://www.financedigest.com/where-can-you-start-building-your-emergency-funds.html "Where Can You Start Building Your Emergency Funds?") deal, in part necessitated by a post-pandemic fall in passengers.

Workers in other [British industries are also planning future strikes](https://www.financedigest.com/british-doctors-strikes-risk-patient-safety-minister-says.html "British doctors’ strikes risk patient safety, minister says") or moving towards industrial action. These include port workers, lawyers, teachers, nurses, firefighters, and waste collection, [airport and postal staff](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-airports-face-christmas-disruption-as-border-staff-to-strike.html "UK airports face Christmas disruption as border staff to strike").

(Reporting by William Jame and Sachin Ravikumars; Editing by Alex Richardson and Michael Holden)


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