COMMUTERS may find their journeys disrupted today as the London Underground strike begins.

London Underground (LU) services will be disrupted today after drivers launched a 24-hour strike in a dispute over the Night Tube.

Five Tube lines will be severely affected this morning by strike action taken by Tube workers.

Transport for London (TfL) said the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines will be severely disrupted for 24 hours from 4.30am on Friday.

Another strike will be held on Saturday evening on the Central and Victoria lines, hitting plans to restart the Night Tube this weekend after it was suspended last year because of the pandemic.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are taking industrial action on a number of days in the run-up to Christmas.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The Tube strike action this morning is rock solid in all depots and the widespread impact on services is solely down to management failure to recognise and address the anger of their staff at the imposition of 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.

“Our members have spoken this morning and it’s time for London Underground to start listening.

“This is just the start of a programme of action and the Mayor and his officials need to recognise our determination to defend progressive and family friendly working practices. We remain available for talks.”

RMT members are also planning to strike on six other nights: on Friday December 3, Saturday 4, Friday 10, Saturday 11, and Friday 17.

The RMT has said that LU has abolished 200 Tube driver positions and has imposed “unacceptable and intolerable” new rotas on existing drivers to cover Night Tube services. The union says this would “wreck the work-life balance” of members.

It came after the public and campaign groups had demanded safer night-time transport to help tackle violence against women and girls and increase available transport to support night-time industries.

The union said its members are solidly supporting the walkout.

Picket lines were mounted outside some Tube stations from early morning.

The RMT says Transport for London (TfL) has “ripped up” an agreement on Night Tube driving by changing rosters.

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

Nick Dent, director of London Underground customer operations, said: “At such a pivotal time for the capital’s recovery, we are hugely disappointed that the RMT is threatening London with this unnecessary action.

“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.”

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