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

Wednesday, 12th November
Rail union RMT, has condemned Avanti West Coast for running stations with low staffing levels, warning that cuts and unfilled vacancies are putting both passengers and staff potentially at risk.
Tuesday, 11th November
Rail union, RMT is stepping up its national campaign to end outsourcing across the railway with a day of action to put pressure on Northern in Manchester on Wednesday 19 November.
Thursday, 6th November
Rail union, RMT has called for cuts to the British Transport Police (BTP) to be reversed and for urgent action to deliver a safer, properly policed railway following the horrific mass stabbing last Saturday.
Thursday, 6th November
RMT is taking its campaign to protect transport workers from losing their UK visa status directly to the Prime Minister on Friday.
Wednesday, 5th November
Rail union, RMT has welcomed government legislation going through Parliament tomorrow which will establish Great British Railways (GBR).