THE RMT union is to ballot London Underground staff over a possible New Year strike, in protest at TfL plans to close 268 ticket offices and cut 750 jobs.
In fact, 950 jobs are to go as a result of the reform, but 200 additional posts will be created by plans to run 24-hour services at weekends on most tube lines from 2015.
Rail unions have been bitterly critical of the closure plan, which London Underground said would depend on satisfactory safety assessments. More staff will be on duty in ticket halls to help passengers instead, and there will still be inquiry offices at the most important stations in central London and at Heathrow airport.
However, RMT general secretary Bob Crow claimed the change would have a 'devastating impact'.
He said: "The documentation confirms without any doubt that the attack on staffing levels and passenger services would have a devastating impact on tube safety with assaults and thefts soaring through the roof. It is also clear that the most vulnerable members of our society would be most at risk when it comes to both violence and access to tube services. The plans rip-up promises on ticket offices that the Mayor gave to London before he was elected.
“As a result, RMT can confirm that the union will be serving notice today for a ballot for both strike action and action short of a strike with the ballot closing in January. All Underground members will be balloted as it is crystal clear that every single member of staff will feel the impact from the proposals that have been put forward.
“RMT will work with the communities in the front line of the cuts plans, and with our sister unions, to fight the tube cuts through combined political, public and industrial campaigning designed to stop these lethal proposals in their tracks.”
London Underground chief operating officer Phil Hufton responded: “People are at the heart of our vision for the future of the Tube – our customers and staff – and we’ve made a series of clear commitments about how we’ll introduce these changes. We’ve promised customers that we’ll introduce a 24 hour service on five lines during 2015, and our commitment is that all stations will remain staffed at all times when services are operating. In future there’ll be more staff in ticket halls and on gatelines to help customers buy the right ticket and keep them safe and secure.
“We’re clear that there’ll be a job for everyone at LU who wants to work for us and be flexible, that we’ll make these changes with no compulsory redundancies, and that we’ll involve staff in our plans at every stage and support them through change. We are now consulting with our unions and staff on our future vision, and I would urge the unions to work with us to shape our plans, rather than threaten hard-working Londoners with completely unnecessary strike action.”