Business leaders appealed for looming Tube strikes to be called off as they threatened to cause travel misery for many Londoners and hit the capital with a bill estimated at £210million.
They warned that the RMT industrial action would be an “own goal” for the city as its economic uplift earlier in the year is already under threat from Donald Trump’s Iran war.
Drivers belonging to the RMT union are set to walk out from midday on Tuesday (April 21) for 24 hours, and again from midday on Thursday (April 23) for 24 hours.
The timings mean the industrial action will impact at least four days.
It is set to hit the West End, wider hospitality sector, and other businesses in the capital.
A reduced service will run on most lines apart from the Piccadilly and Circle lines, which are expected to be shut down.
There will also be no service on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, or on the Central line between White City and Aldgate.
Ed Richardson, transport programme director at BusinessLDN, said: “These strikes will be hugely frustrating for Londoners that rely on the Tube to get around the city.
“It also sends a really poor message to visitors and investors.
"At a time when the economy is weak and firms are already dealing with the economic fallout from the war in Iran, these strikes are a damaging own goal for the capital.”
Mr Richardson stressed that businesses in London’s hospitality sector, many of which are struggling due to the burden of taxes, higher energy bills and rising staff costs, would be hard hit by the industrial action.
“While many people will be able to work from home or use other modes of travel, it will hit firms that rely on footfall with hospitality, including theatres and museums, bearing the brunt,” he explained.
"We urge both sides to reach an agreement urgently and avoid these damaging strikes.”
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan also issued a similar plea.
A City Hall source said: “Nobody wants to see strike action which has a serious impact on Londoners, businesses and commuters.
“The Mayor continues to urge the RMT and TfL to get around the table to resolve this matter and call off this planned strike action.”
Simon French, chief economist at independent investment bank Panmure Liberum, estimated the cost of the two 24-hour strikes would be £210 million.
He explained: “Whilst Londoners have shown admirable adaptation to their work patterns to deal with strike disruption, there is still a core of workers who can’t work at home, or adjust their commute.
“The cost is another own goal in an economy struggling for growth.”
Karim Fatehi, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, warned of the risk that the industrial action brings “essential economic activity to a standstill and disrupts businesses across the capital”.
He added: “At a time when businesses are already facing rising operating costs, higher taxes and tighter margins, even a few days of industrial action risks threatening jobs and jeopardising long-term viability.”
He stressed further: “London’s hard-earned reputation as a global business centre, and as the driving force behind a thriving United Kingdom, depends on a functioning and reliable transport network.
“We therefore urge all parties involved in this dispute to find a resolution to these strikes quickly and prioritise the capital’s economy, and ensure London remains open, accessible, and competitive."
The RMT was contacted for comment.
RMT members are taking the industrial action mainly over the introduction of a four-day working week, which the union says could increase fatigue and compromise safety.
Transport for London rejects the claims, stressing that the changes are voluntary and has branded the strikes as “completely unnecessary.”
Coinciding with the RMT walkouts, a bus strike, involving Unite members who are bus station and network traffic controllers, will take place from Thursday to Saturday next week.
More than 150 members of the union are walking out over a dispute around changes to rosters with more weekend working and further travel to sites across London.
Overall, bus services are expected to operate largely as normal.
There is also separate strike action on Friday, April 24, which will affect a limited number of routes in east London.
Some 300 bus drivers represented by Unite and the East London Bus & Coach Company will walk out in a dispute over long-distance shifts and length of breaks.
