Every Job Matters - Defending London Underground Jobs

The RMT confirmed today that the union would ballot members over plans for massive job cuts on London Underground. The news was well covered in the press.

London Underground staff balloted over strike action - BBC London

London Underground workers will be balloted for strike action over 750 job cuts and ticket office closures.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said it would "fight" against the plans for all ticket offices to close.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union today confirmed a ballot for Industrial action over a plan for devastating Job cuts on London Underground.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “RMT members have now had a chance to study in detail the proposals put forward last week by London Underground which would axe almost a thousand staff jobs and close all ticket offices across the network. RMT has also now had a chance to thoroughly examine the risk assessment documents passed to the union by the tube management.

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd dated 29 October 2013.

We note that this letter does not give the assurance we requested that when LUL orders or commissions new train stock, these will include a driver’s cab, and instead states that the company ‘cannot rule anything in or out’.

We further note that the letter:

• refers to ‘pressure to be more efficient’ and to ‘get the best value for money from everything we get’, indicating that LUL’s decisions on this matter will be driven by a desire to cut spending and save money;

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

As every LUL member must now be aware London Underground has announced the closure of ALL ticket offices by as early as 2015 and the subsequent loss of 750 jobs. Despite this Government’s and the Mayor of London’s claim they wish more use of public transport they are cutting LU’s budget by £33m for 2013-14, and £45m for 2014-15. And this despite January’s 4.2% increase in fares across the tube, buses and trams.

Every driver on the combine needs to get ready to defend the job. LU's plans to slash staffing on stations will effect every grade in every function and will impact directly on our ability to do our job safely and professionally.

Transport For All who champion the cause of accessible transport in the capital have held a well attended protest against LUL bosses plans for massive job cuts.

TfA tweeted 'Staff assistance enables us to travel safely!.

With 950 job cuts announced; how can the tube provide a 'world class service' to elderly and disabled people who may need assistance?

The RMT have already clearly sad NO to these cuts and will ballot for industrial action.

London Underground have circulated a document amongst staff telling them the cuts and changes to jobs that they want to make. These extracts are taken from the document which you can download below.

Bits in italics have been rewritten:

The Proposals
Government has told us that we need to make a bigger contribution to the investment needed to continue to improve our network,

we’re proposing to make some fundamental changes in line with our vision for the Tube.

We note that this morning, LUL announced:

• that every ticket office will close by 2015
• that nearly one thousand jobs on stations will go, with a net loss of 750 jobs
• that stations will be staffed when trains are running, which suggests that they may not have Supervisors present and may no longer be staffed when trains are not running at night
• a thoroughgoing restructuring of station staffing, with all job roles changing and staff being re-evaluated for their own jobs

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“No matter how this is dressed up by Boris Johnson and his officials, today’s announcement is all about slashing £270 million from the annual London transport budget and the proposed cuts will decimate staffing levels and hit the most vulnerable users of tube services the hardest. The mayor must believe he is some sort of magician if he thinks he can slash a thousand jobs and still run safe services when everyone knows that staffing has already been cut to the bone while passenger demand continues to rise.