Tube strikes LIVE: London Underground chaos on Tuesday – lines hit | UK | News

Strikes have significant financial repercussions across many industries, and these wider ripple effects are what make the RMT union’s industrial action such a powerful bargaining tool in securing better conditions for its members.

CEBR estimated that two 24-hour work stoppages in April cost the economy between £130 million and £250 million in lost working days, affecting both striking RMT staff and passengers unable to travel.

He also noted that despite the rise of cycling and remote working, the direct cost of lost workdays is higher than it was a few years ago.

Beyond the loss of productivity, sectors such as hospitality and retail suffer heavily during tube strikes, particularly in central London, where footfall falls sharply and consumer spending falls.

Ahead of the April strikes, pubs and restaurants expected sales to fall by around 40 per cent, while cafes and cafés expected losses of around 34 per cent, with UKHospitality estimating total losses to be around £600 million.