Tube staff to strike over safety

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6896648.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Tube workers have voted for a 24-hour strike on the Bakerloo line next week over fears for workers' safety.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union said it is in response to plans to make staff remove passengers from trains north of Queen's Park station unaided.

The union insists two station staff and the driver should empty trains but managers say one member of station staff and the driver can do it safely.

The strike will begin at 2200 BST on Thursday 19 July.

Completely unnecessary

RMT members returned a 94.5% vote in favour of strike action.

"We have made it clear to London Underground that their plans to reduce station staff at Queen's Park, Willesden Junction and Harrow & Wealdstone will compromise the safety of our members and are unacceptable," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.

"Having a minimum of two station staff involved in de-training passengers is not a luxury, it is a necessity, not least given the levels of crime at the stations concerned."

But a London Underground spokesman said: "This strike action is completely unnecessary and will not achieve anything."