London tube strikes to go ahead on Tuesday and Thursday, RMT says

London Underground drivers will stage two 24-hour strikes next week after talks over a proposed four-day working week collapsed, the RMT union announced [1]. The stoppages are scheduled for June 2 and June 4, with the union citing Transport for London's (TfL) "continued refusal to engage meaningfully" on concerns about fatigue, longer shifts, and safety [1]. TfL's chief operating officer, Claire Mann, stated the agency believes the issues "can be worked out in time" and is continuing talks to avoid disruption [1]. The transport body expects to run services on most Tube lines but warns of significant interruptions, while the Elizabeth line, London Overground, DLR, and trams will operate as scheduled [1]. This dispute is part of a broader wave of UK industrial action that began in mid-2022, with railway workers walking out over pay and conditions amid rising inflation [2]. The London Underground, a rapid transit system managed by TfL, is a critical artery for the capital, accommodating up to 5 million passenger journeys daily across its 11 lines and 272 stations [3]. The network, the world's oldest underground passenger railway, first opened in 1863 [3]. The current conflict centers on a voluntary pilot for a compressed four-day week on the Bakerloo line, which uses some of the network's oldest rolling stock, the 1972 Stock trains [1][5]. While the Aslef union has endorsed the trial, the RMT has held firm, having already taken industrial action over the issue in April [1]. The union has warned it is prepared to take further action if sufficient progress is not made [1].