TfL Tube strike: Bakerloo line passengers face two walkouts in the next month

London Underground passengers are facing fresh disruption as Tube workers plan to stage two strikes on the Bakerloo line.

RMT union members are planning to strike for 18 hours on Boxing Day and for 24 hours from 11.29pm on Sunday January 13.

It said the walkout is over London Underground "hacking staffing levels back to the bone", putting undue stress on staff and putting workers and the travelling public at risk.

RMT said the walkout would be undertaken by station staff workers and not tube drivers.

London Underground said the strike was "completely unjustified" and that it has adhered to all the commitments it had made on staffing numbers.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union's Workers Bakerloo South Group members have planned to strike between 5am and 11.01pm on Boxing Day and between 11.29pm on Sunday, January 13 and 11.29pm Monday, January 14.

In a statement, the group said its planned strikes were due to the “company’s failure to ensure sufficient shift coverage in line with previous commitments.”

“London Underground’s current position creates undue stress on staff and puts all members and the travelling public at increased risk,” it added.

Members will also to take industrial action by refusing to familiarise staff who would not normally work at their station, including ambassadors, from 11.02pm on Boxing day until further notice.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members are rightly angry that staffing levels on the Bakerloo Line have been hacked back to the bone presenting a serious danger to staff and passengers alike.

“Previous commitments to ensure safe staffing coverage have been flouted and in order to press the company to address the issues we have no option but to announce a programme of action.

“The union remains available for serious and genuine talks.”

Brian Woodhead, London Underground’s director for customer service, said: “This action is entirely unjustified. We have adhered to all the commitments that we have made on staffing numbers across the network, and upheld the agreements made with unions as recently as last year."

He added: "We call on them to withdraw this action, which will only cause unnecessary disruption for customers during the festive period, and to work with us to resolve this dispute without strike action.”