London remains without a subway

In the UK, the leader of the RMT union Eddie Dempsey said that another attempt at negotiations with employers has failed and the 5-day strike on the London Underground that began on Sunday continues in full force, BNR reported.

Thousands of union members are striking over pay and working hours. With the exception of the Northern Line, which operates on a severely limited schedule, all other London Underground lines came to a complete standstill on Tuesday. People trying to get around the capital turned to buses, boats, bicycles, cars or even on foot to reach their destinations. Buses are overloaded, and most cars, bicycles and motorbikes cause traffic jams on main streets.

A curious statistic is that yesterday, for example, 22,805 bicycle rentals were registered, which is 73% more than the same day last week. Employers claim that the proposed 3.4% pay increase is “fair”, and the union's demand for a shorter working week than 32 hours is “untenable”. The unions, in turn, accused employers of hypocrisy because, while attempts are being made to renew negotiations, they have decided to close the cash desks on the “Elizabeth” line - something that the employers deny. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and "Downing Street" have called on both sides in the labor dispute to sit down at the negotiating table.