Tube Union RMT confirmed today that following a ballot of members across London Underground in a dispute over jobs, services and safety that recorded a massive vote for both strike action and action short of a strike members are instructed to take action as follows:

• Members to cease work between 12.00 hours on 4th February until 11.59 hours on 6th February. Driver members not to book on for any shifts between those hours.
• Members to cease work between 12.00 hours on 11th February until 11.59 hours on 13th February. Driver members not to book on for any shifts between those hours.
• In action short of a strike, station grades not to carry out revenue duties on 7th, 10th and 14th February between 09.30 and 11.30 hours and 18.30 and 20.30 hours.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“RMT members on London Underground have voted by a massive majority for both strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute which is wholly about cash-led cuts plans that would see the axing of nearly a thousand safety critical jobs and the closure of ticket offices at a time when the tube network is under growing pressure from customer demand and needs more staff and not less to ensure safe and efficient operation.

“Not only are a thousand posts on the line but staff remaining are going to be forced through the humiliating and degrading experience of re-applying for their own jobs – the same staff who have been hailed as heroes when the tube has faced emergency situations. That is a kick in the teeth for the loyal and experienced tube workforce who have kept services running safely and efficiently under constant pressure from weight of demand and a creaking and under-resourced infra-structure.

“These cuts would hit the vulnerable, the elderly, those with disabilities and women the hardest. De-staffing stations, with supervisors running operations three stops down the line on an IPad, would turn the tube system into a criminals paradise where those with violence and robbery on their minds are given a clear run. RMT will work with our sister unions and passenger groups to ensure that tube users understand just what’s at stake as Boris Johnson turns his opportunist election pledges on their head.

“Before the Tories start shouting the odds they should take note of the fact that the turn out in this ballot was higher than the last mayoral and GLA elections and the vote in favour massively outstrips anything that those same politicians can even dream of in terms of a popular mandate.

“This result will now be considered by the RMT executive and a further statement will be issued in due course.”

• by Geoff Martin from www.rmt.org.uk