MORE than two-thirds of RMT members balloted at Govia Thameslink Railway have voted in favour of strikes or other industrial action over proposed changes to ticket office hours, the RMT said.
The union reported that 70 per cent had been in favour of a strike, and almost 80 per cent supported other industrial action short of a strike.
The plans as proposed by GTR affect the offices at 83 stations on three GTR networks -- Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern.
GTR wants to close some offices entirely, bringing staff on to station concourses from where they could still sell tickets, while although other offices would remain their opening hours would be cut.
The ballot is not part of the the driver-only operation dispute on Southern, which has led to several strikes and where talks have broken down again. The RMT has accused GTR of ignoring opposition to its plans from passengers and staff, and is predicting that at least 130 jobs will be lose.
RMT assistant general secretary Steve Hedley said: “The Govia Thameslink franchise is in meltdown and not fit for purpose. Not content with axeing catering services, closing ticket offices and attacking the role of their guards they now want to threaten 130 station jobs and compromise the safety of both their passengers and staff alike.
“These plans fly in the face of the response from the thousands of passengers who objected to the closure of ticket offices and the de-staffing of stations as Govia drives on with plans for a 'faceless railway' where the public are left to fend for themselves on rammed-out, dangerous and unreliable services.
“In light of this strong mandate from our members our National Executive Committee will be considering the course of industrial action.”
GTR has yet to comment.