London Underground Cleaners Now Set To Strike Over Pay And Sick Leave, Disrupting Travel Across The Capital, Here’s All You Need To Know

Published on September 4, 2025

Due to wage and paid sick leave disagreements with their employer, outsourcing agency ABM, London Underground cleaners are in the process of planning a strike. Close to 5,800 cleaners working across the Transport for London (TfL) services as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) are requesting increased pay and improved working conditions. Given the importance of the Tube for many everyday users and tourists, the planned strike could lead to major disruptions.

Dispute Over Pay and Sick Leave

The dispute centers around ABM’s refusal to offer more than the London Living Wage to its cleaning staff. The workers, who play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness and safety on the Underground, are also protesting the lack of sick pay, which leaves them vulnerable when they fall ill. The RMT union has criticized ABM for failing to offer a fair pay increase, especially given the company’s substantial profits.

RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey expressed frustration with ABM’s approach, stating, “Our members are the people who keep London Underground clean and safe for millions of passengers every single day, but they are treated as second-class workers by ABM. They are denied sick pay, scraping by on poverty pensions, and left to struggle month after month while ABM extracts millions in profits and dividends.”

The cleaners are seeking better working conditions, including adequate sick pay and a wage increase that reflects the true cost of living in London. The dispute highlights the broader issue of outsourcing, with the union arguing that cleaning services should be brought back under the direct management of TfL, which could guarantee better worker protections.

The Role of London Underground Cleaners

The cleaners employed by ABM play a vital role in ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the London Underground, a service used by millions of passengers daily. These workers are responsible for maintaining the stations, trains, and other facilities, keeping the Underground operating smoothly. However, despite the essential nature of their work, cleaners often face poor pay, lack of benefits, and difficult working conditions.

In addition to their essential duties, cleaners also face the added challenge of working in an environment where their health and well-being are not always prioritized. The lack of sick pay means that many cleaners are forced to work even when they are ill, further compromising their health and safety. This situation has led to growing unrest among the workforce, with union leaders stating that the workers deserve better treatment and respect for their contributions to the city’s transport system.

Mayor’s Position and the Push for TfL to Take Over Cleaning Services

Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has previously expressed his support for bringing cleaning services back under TfL’s direct control, which could lead to improved pay and benefits for workers. Currently, ABM manages the cleaning staff under an outsourcing contract, which has led to ongoing disputes between the company and its employees. If cleaning services were brought back in-house, cleaners would likely benefit from improved sick pay and better working conditions, as TfL has more control over such aspects of employment.

Khan’s support for this shift reflects the growing concerns over the outsourcing of essential services and its impact on workers. By bringing services like cleaning back under TfL’s direct control, the Mayor believes that workers would have greater job security, fairer wages, and more comprehensive benefits. This would also allow TfL to improve the overall quality of services provided to passengers, ensuring that cleaning staff are treated as valued members of the team rather than outsourced labor.

Potential Impact on London’s Commuters and Tourists

The strike action, which has not yet been officially scheduled, is expected to disrupt London Underground services, especially during peak hours when commuters and tourists rely heavily on the Tube to travel around the city. If the strike goes ahead, it could have a severe impact on daily commuters who depend on the Underground to get to work or attend appointments.

For tourists visiting London, the strikes could create significant inconvenience. The London Underground is one of the most popular modes of transport for tourists, who use it to travel between iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, and the West End theatres. With a major strike affecting Tube cleaning services, tourists could find the stations and trains in an unsatisfactory state, affecting their overall experience of London’s public transport system.

The strikes are expected to be coordinated with the ongoing Tube drivers’ strike over pay and working conditions. The two actions could combine to leave little or no service on the Tube between Monday and Thursday, as well as limited service on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from Tuesday to Thursday. Although London Overground, the Elizabeth Line, and bus services will not be affected, the disruption to the Underground could significantly hamper travel around the city.

The Larger Context: Ongoing Transport Strikes in London

This potential strike is part of a larger wave of labor disputes across London’s transport system. Tube drivers, represented by the same union, are also set to begin their strike action over pay and working hours. The union has insisted that it will only accept an offer that includes reduced working hours, but TfL has labeled this as unaffordable. Instead, TfL has proposed increasing pay, though discussions remain unresolved.

The strikes, which are set to disrupt services for both commuters and tourists, are likely to be felt most acutely by those who rely on the Underground for daily travel. During the strikes, London’s transport system could be left in chaos, affecting not only the millions of commuters who depend on it but also the influx of tourists visiting the capital.

Looking Ahead: Can a Solution Be Reached?

The unions involved are calling for fair treatment for workers, including improved wages and benefits, which they argue are vital for the well-being of those who keep the city’s transport system running smoothly. The hope is that a resolution can be reached before the strike takes effect, avoiding major disruptions for the public. However, with little progress made in negotiations so far, the strikes remain a very real possibility.

In the meantime, Londoners and visitors should be prepared for potential disruptions and consider alternative transport options during strike periods. TfL has advised commuters to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time for travel, particularly if using the Underground.

The Case for Equity Within the Transport System in London

The struggle for better conditions within the London underground surely reflects on the pain points of overlooking the second level workers, especially in the underpaid outsourced positions in the transport trade. The repercussions of the strike will be, of course, mostly experienced by commuters and tourists, but there’s a pressing need to consider the wider implications of the strike pertaining to crucial employment protection. Whether the discussions will be fruitful to settle the conflict and all of its consequences before the strike occurs, is still a question. However, one thing will always remain a fact: fairness for the employees remains a priority for effective functioning and pace of the transport system, both in the present and in future London.