Cuts Leave Tube Stations Unstaffed On 439 Occasions In The Past 6 Months

Figures obtained by RMT show that from October 2009 through to March 2010 surface level stations on the District, Central, Metropolitan, Circle & Hammersmith and Northern Lines were left unstaffed for entire shifts on a total of 439 occasions. One station, Mill Hill East, was left unstaffed for 95 entire shifts.

Current cuts plans being implemented by London Underground would see up to 800 ticket office, station and platform staff jobs axed creating a wave of ticket office closures and ushering in a culture of unstaffed tube stations, particularly late at night.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"As Londoners prepare to vote they need to be aware that a Tory Mayor, who promised no cuts to station staff and no ticket office closures, is smuggling through reductions in staffing numbers that will have lethal consequences for the travelling public. The muggers paradise of unstaffed stations is already a reality across whole swathes of the tube system as these new figures demonstrate.

"We already have proposals on the table that will force tube drivers to pull away from stations without working mirrors or cameras and without the assistance of platform staff. It is only a matter of time before a passenger is dragged under a tube train as a consequence of these reckless cuts.

"Tory Mayor Boris Johnson has ripped up his promise to Londoners on tube staffing and voters need to take note of that on Thursday. RMT remains committed to fighting the jobs carnage on the tube and we will continue to fight for safe staffing levels on behalf of both our members and the travelling public."

> RMT National News

Saturday, 18th April
RMT has accused TfL bosses of reneging on promises to negotiate in good faith, making tube driver strike action next week inevitable.
Friday, 17th April
Rail union RMT has condemned Network Rail’s “Modernising Maintenance” programme after major disruption at Manchester Piccadilly forced the issuing of a “do not travel” instruction, leaving many passengers stranded.
Thursday, 16th April
Transport union RMT has welcomed the Scottish National Party’s commitment to introduce specific legal protections for public transport workers, as part of its programme to tackle rising levels of abuse and violence.
Wednesday, 15th April
Maritime union RMT, will take strike action at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tomorrow (Thursday 16 April) after the employer failed to table a new offer.
Tuesday, 14th April
Transport union RMT, will hold a national day of action to tackle the growing threat of assaults across the rail, bus, metro and ferry sectors on April 28.