More than 20 of London’s leading hospitality bosses have written to the Mayor and the leaders of the two main rail unions urging them to resolve the current dispute before ruining another Christmas for the battered industry.
The letter, coordinated by trade body UKHospitality’s boss Kate Nicholls sent the letter to Sadiq Khan, and RMT general secretaries Mick Lynch and his ASLEF counterpart Mick Whelan ahead of a planned stoppage of the network on Thursday and again next Tuesday.
Both the unions are in dispute with Transport for London over pay and conditions although the RMT suspended as planned wave of stoppages this week after a new offer from management. However the two ASLEF walkouts are still scheduled to go ahead, bringing the Tube network to a halt at the start of the build up to Christmas.
The letter is co-signed by 25 bosses including the chiefs of biggest pub groups – Fuller’s, Greene King, Punch Pubs, Stonegate Group and Young’s – and leading businesses including Côte Brasserie, Drake & Morgan, ETM Group, Hippodrome Casino, Tossed and Wasabi and City restaurant 1 Lombard Street.
The letter said: “Our request to you as leaders of your respective organisations is to conclude these negotiations swiftly, or risk permanent damage to the London economy. A strike at any time of year means hospitality businesses can lose 70% of that day’s income. But in this crucial period the effect is even worse, and a strike cancelled at the last moment will probably be too late to stop the negative impact.
“Bookings for large parties are already cancelled, or never made at all. Coverage in global media will mean some potential visitors to our city have decided not to risk a visit.
“Some hospitality businesses make up to 40% of their annual takings in the two months before Christmas. Losing income at this time of year can and does put the future of these businesses at risk, and with it, people’s jobs. We ask only that you swiftly conclude the negotiations before the impact on our businesses and our city becomes unacceptably high, threatening the livelihoods of those working in it.”
London had been hoping for the first Christmas not blighted by lockdowns, the cost of living crisis and transport strikes since 2017. The festive seasons of 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023 were all marked by public transport disruption caused by industrial action.
