The train drivers' union Aslef has called for more women to apply for driving roles on the London Underground, warning that current hiring trends will leave women severely under-represented for decades.
Gender gap persists
Nearly 50 years after the first woman qualified as a Tube driver, women remain a small minority in the profession. London Underground has recruited over 500 drivers in the past two years to replace retiring staff and prepare for new trains on the Piccadilly line, yet four out of five new hires are male, according to the union.
Finn Brennan, Aslef's organiser on the Underground, said: "With many train drivers staying in the role until retirement, it means that in 30 years' time fewer than one in five will be women. There is absolutely no reason why the driving grade should not be gender balanced."
Shift work not the issue
Brennan dismissed the idea that shift work or work-life balance were barriers, noting that women already make up the majority in low-paid roles such as cleaning and catering, which also require shift work. He argued that there has been a fundamental failure to actively promote and encourage women to pursue a career as a Tube driver.
Transport for London (TfL) has been urged to overhaul its recruitment practices to address the imbalance. Current roles are advertised on the TfL website.
