The ongoing Tube strikes have thrown London into travel chaos this week, and now the union leading the action wants the mayor to step in personally.

Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the RMT union, has called for a face-to-face “summit” with London mayor Sadiq Khan to try and break the deadlock over pay and working hours.

Thousands of RMT members walked out on Sunday, bringing much of the Underground to a standstill. By midweek, commuters were still facing major disruption, with most Tube lines closed.

At the heart of the dispute is the RMT’s demand for a 32-hour working week. Transport for London (TfL) has dismissed the idea as “unaffordable,” estimating it would cost £200 million a year. TfL says it has instead offered workers a 3.4% pay rise, but union leaders argue that’s not enough.

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan responded that the mayor is ready to restart talks, stressing that strikes are hitting both Londoners and businesses hard.

With the Tube largely out of action, many commuters have turned to alternatives. TfL reported a sharp rise in bus, Overground, Elizabeth line and Docklands Light Railway use. Cycling has also surged, with nearly double the number of bikes hired on Wednesday compared with the same day last week.

Despite the disruption, both sides remain far apart. TfL said it was “disappointed” the strike went ahead and claimed union members voted for industrial action before seeing its pay offer. Union leaders, meanwhile, insist the offer doesn’t address core concerns about working hours.

For now, Londoners are left to navigate the city without their usual transport lifeline—hoping that the mayor, TfL, and the RMT can finally get round the table. Photo by chaddavis.photography, Wikimedia commons.