Based on current gossip from union insiders (and my own paranoid scrolling), the most likely time for the next strike is spring 2026. Specifically, around March or April. Why? Because that’s when the annual pay negotiations usually hit their climax. TfL will offer a 3% raise, the unions will demand 7%, and someone will throw a biscuit across the table. Then, BAM, two weeks of chaos.
But don’t panic yet. There’s a chance the talks could go smoothly. After all, London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, is desperate to avoid another “Summer of Discontent” like 2026—he’s still getting hate mail from people whose holidays got ruined. If they can agree on a deal before the March budget, you might get through spring without a single day of walking in your office shoes along the A40. Dream big.
