London’s transport network faces fresh disruption after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said Underground staff will stage a seven-day walk-out starting 5 September. The union accused network management of refusing to engage seriously on pay and of backtracking on previous agreements. Different grades of staff will stop work at varying times during the week-long action, potentially bringing most of the capital’s 11-line Tube system to a standstill. The stoppage threatens to curtail commuting, tourism and retail activity at the end of the summer holiday period, when passenger numbers typically rebound. Transport for London has yet to detail contingency plans but has warned travellers to expect severe delays and crowding. The Tube action coincides with a broader revival of labour militancy in UK transport. Unite said some 7,500 bus drivers in towns and cities including Birkenhead, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester and Newcastle are striking or balloting over wages, scheduling and safety, with further walk-outs pencilled in for the coming weeks. The overlapping disputes raise the prospect of an ‘autumn of discontent’ across Britain’s public-transport network unless agreements are reached.