This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Drivers on parts of London Underground are to strike on the day of Donald Trump’s visit to the capital next month, in a row over working conditions and staffing.

The industrial action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union on the Piccadilly line will begin at 9pm on 11 July until 00:01 on 14 July.

The US president is visiting the UK on 13 July.

About half a million passengers a day travel on the Piccadilly line, which links central London to Heathrow airport.

The RMT accused London Underground of failing to employ enough drivers, breaking agreements and ignoring longstanding problems with the line’s “ageing” fleet of trains.

Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said: “There have been repeated problems on the Piccadilly line going back a number of years which have led to dispute after dispute and the failure of LU management to get a grip has tipped the situation over the edge yet again. That is why we have had no option but to put on these strike dates.

“Every effort by RMT reps to negotiate a settlement has been obstructed by the company and it is now down to LU bosses to start listening to their members, take the raft of issues at the heart of this dispute seriously and start engaging in a way that will allow us to make some genuine progress.”

Nigel Holness, the director of network operations for London Underground, said: “We urge the RMT leadership to work with us constructively on the local issues they have raised rather than threaten to disrupt our customers.

“We remain available for talks to prevent any unnecessary industrial action on the Piccadilly line.”