Tube strikes could cost hospitality £50m, says UKH

The latest round of strikes from RMT members on the London Underground could cost hospitality businesses up to £50m according to UKHospitality.

Staff on the tube will go on strike between 7 January and 11 January and disruption will last from the evening of 6 January until midday on the 12 January.

UKH called this news “frustrating for Londoners, workers and the thousands of hospitality businesses that operate in the Capital”.

The trade organisation also stated that the last 18 months of strikes have cost hospitality around £4bn.

The industrial action comes after RMT members rejected a below inflation pay rise of 5%.

The RMT is also calling for full staff travel facilities for all tube workers to be restored to “prevent the creation of a two-tier workforce”.

Kate Nicholls, UKH CEO, said: “January is already one of the quieter trading months of the year for hospitality, where every sale counts, and this disruption will make the start to the year even more challenging. We need all parties to come together to urgently reach a resolution and bring to an end this long-running disruption.”

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, added: “The refusal of TfL to restore staff travel facilities and create a two-tier workforce is also unacceptable. Our members have made it clear that they are prepared to take action and we urge TfL to enter into meaningful conciliatory talks to avert disruption in the capital.”