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Tube workers vote to strike over ticket office closures Tube workers vote to strike over ticket office closures
(about 1 hour later)
London Underground workers have voted to go on strike over controversial plans to close tube ticket offices.London Underground workers have voted to go on strike over controversial plans to close tube ticket offices.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union backed walkouts by 77%, and other forms of industrial action by a bigger margin, threatening industrial action in the coming weeks.Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union backed walkouts by 77%, and other forms of industrial action by a bigger margin, threatening industrial action in the coming weeks.
The union's executive will consider the vote, and will have to give seven days notice of any stoppages. The union will stage two 48-hour strikes from noon on February 4 and 11.
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) will also vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of action in protest at the closure of all 260 tube ticket offices, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) will also vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of action in protest at the closure of all 260 tube ticket offices, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.
Any industrial action is likely to be co-ordinated between the two unions.Any industrial action is likely to be co-ordinated between the two unions.
The 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 1,000 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.The 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 1,000 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 1,000 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."Not only are 1,000 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.
"Before the Tories start shouting the odds, they should take note of the fact that the turnout 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.""Before the Tories start shouting the odds, they should take note of the fact that the turnout 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."
The TSSA general secretary, Manuel Cortes, blamed the ballot on the "reckless" behaviour of Boris Johnson, the London mayor, who he said was refusing to meet the unions to talk about their safety and security concerns.The TSSA general secretary, Manuel Cortes, blamed the ballot on the "reckless" behaviour of Boris Johnson, the London mayor, who he said was refusing to meet the unions to talk about their safety and security concerns.
He said: "It was the mayor who came into office in 2008 with a firm pledge to keep open every ticket office on the grounds of keeping passengers safe and secure at all times.He said: "It was the mayor who came into office in 2008 with a firm pledge to keep open every ticket office on the grounds of keeping passengers safe and secure at all times.
"Now he wants to scrap the lot, claiming there will be no problems because he will keep staff on station platforms – those that keep their jobs, that is.""Now he wants to scrap the lot, claiming there will be no problems because he will keep staff on station platforms – those that keep their jobs, that is."
Transport for London said sales at ticket offices accounted for only about 3% of all journeys, after announcing that staff would be switched to station concourses.Transport for London said sales at ticket offices accounted for only about 3% of all journeys, after announcing that staff would be switched to station concourses.
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