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Tube strike puts pressure on Mayor to get London to work
Dick Murray, Transport Correspondent6 Sep 2010
Tube passengers faced nightmare journeys as a 24-hour strike brought rush-hour disruption with a warning that it will cost London's economy £50 million.
Workers were told to leave the office early or risk being stuck in London as services wound down this afternoon.
A walkout of 800 maintenance workers was starting at 5pm followed by drivers, station staff and signallers at 9pm. Few trains are expected to run tomorrow with some lines reduced to a token shuttle service. Knock-on effects will last until Wednesday morning.
The Northern and Piccadilly lines, strongholds of RMT union members, are expected to be among the hardest hit. Commuters have also been urged to “get on their bikes”, walk to work or stay at home tomorrow when only a handful of services are expected to run.
It came as Boris Johnson issued his starkest warning yet of the “disastrous” impact of the Government's planned spending cuts on London's transport infrastructure.
Writing in the Evening Standard today he says he “cannot and will not accept” the threatened 25 to 40 per cent cuts in the budget.
Hotels across the capital are filling up fast as employers fought to ensure that key staff are at their desks tomorrow. The Park Lane Mews Hotel said inquiries for reservations had gone “crazy for the last two days or so”.
The strike, with three more to come next month and November, is a joint action by 11,000 Tube staff belonging to the RMT and TSSA unions in protest over plans to axe 800 ticket office and station managerial jobs.
Picket lines will be outside train depots and main stations to deter those staff who want to work. Dr Helen Hill, director of policy at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “London can ill afford disruption to its transport network at the best of times. But with economic conditions as tough as they are this will put further strain on businesses when they need it least.”
The cost of each walkout for the capital's economy has been estimated at close to £50 million. With three further strikes scheduled the total bill could exceed £200 million. Tube services across the network were being gradually withdrawn throughout the evening as the strike took effect.
Transport for London has massive contingency plans including more buses, Thames commuter boat services and volunteer staff at stations handing out maps and travel advice.
The Mayor came under increasing pressure today to become directly involved in the now deadlocked talks. A senior Tube source said: “It seems Bob Crow— the RMT leader— is determined to have his strike, rattle cages and show he is a force to be reckoned with before this month's party political conferences.”
There was no weekend contact between the unions and TfL to try and settle the dispute.
Gerry Doherty, TSSA general secretary, said: “I have always said we are willing to talk but they (the Mayor and TfL) must have something to say that has not already been said.” He said both sides had “exhausted their positions”.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: “A Tube strike will be bad for passengers, bad for business and bad for London.
“At a time when public finances are under pressure any strike by Tube workers will be seriously damaging —undermining the case we are making within the spending review for continued investment in the Tube.”
Meanwhile, it emerged that Ken Livingstone was running his mayoral candidacy campaign from the Euston-based offices of the TSSA.
He said: “The TSSA are supporting me because I pursued a transformation of the transport system in London. It is a distraction from the real issue which is the need for the Mayor to bust a gut through talks to resolve this dispute so that Londoners are not inconvenienced.”
Why do they keep doing this?'
Commuters told of their frustration today as they prepared for travel chaos caused by the Tube strike.
Billy Godden, 17, trainee chef from Islington. “I'm at college in Victoria and I'm really worried about making it in tomorrow. It's going to be absolute agony getting home. I'm just hoping the buses are all running OK but even if they are they will be insanely busy.”
Steven Clark, 34, of Leicester, works as a consultant in the City. He takes the train to St Pancras and says he will be relying on a Boris bike for the duration of the strike. “I will be using the bikes throughout. I am glad that there is a contingency measure in place — if not I would be walking or getting a taxi back to St Pancras this evening to get home.”
Monica Del Campo, 34, from Stoke Newington, works in a coffee shop. “I work in Bromley so it's a huge commute for me. I've just come back from a holiday in Spain and I had no idea the strike was happening so I haven't been able to make other travel plans. It's going to be really awful. I don't know why they keep doing this.”
Marianna Lassen, 52, from Hertfordshire, works as a medical PA in King's Cross. “This morning I cycled to my local train station in Stevenage, took my bike on the train to King's Cross, and then will cycle to work at University College Hospital. I'm very pleased I've got my own wheels, because of the uncertainty of getting home tonight. If didn't have a bike I would be walking. This strike is not a good thing for people who rely on the Tube, and even with Boris's bike scheme there are not enough bicycles for everyone.”
Sandra Seed, 59, from Barnes, a vocational manager at King's College Hospital in Denmark Hill. “My commute is long enough as it is. Getting back home tonight is going to be a nightmare. I was told by Tube staff that if you aren't at the station by 4pm this evening you won't get on a train. The people who are going on strike are probably paid more than most of the hardworking commuters they are affecting. It doesn't seem fair at all.”
Staff cuts, safety and pay – why it has come to this
Why are staff going on strike?
In protest over plans by Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London to cut 800 jobs — mostly ticket office staff but also including 100 station managerial positions.
Why are staff being cut?
Mainly to save cash in tough economic times. This time last year the Mayor pledged to slash the TfL budget by £5 billion over the decade. He and TfL also hope that by wielding the axe now they will be saved from more draconian cuts in next month's Government Spending Review.
What will be the impact of the cuts?
They will reduce ticket office opening times by nearly 7,500 hours a week across the Underground network. Many ticket offices will close earlier in the evenings and some not at all on Saturdays or Sundays or both, although none will be axed entirely. Ticket office opening hours will “reflect customer demand,” says TfL.
So why the cuts?
TfL says some offices, such as North Ealing and Latimer Road, sell fewer than 10 tickets an hour and that in the age of the Oyster card lengthy ticket office opening hours cannot be justified. Only one in 20 Tube journeys now starts with a visit to a ticket office, according to TfL. Staff no longer waiting in their offices for passengers to serve can be better used elsewhere in the station.
Why don't the unions accept that argument?
They say the ticket office is not just about selling tickets. It is also about providing information for passengers — with a real person present, not a complex website or posters. The unions emphasise a brightly lit-ticket office — at night or when few people are about — offers a safe haven, particularly for lone women. Union bosses say safety standards and services for passengers will decline if the cuts are forced through.
So the strikes are just about job cuts?
No. There is a secondary dispute over pay involving 200 engineers on the Jubilee and Northern lines employed by contractor Alstom. The RMT has turned down a two per cent pay increase. Alstom says the offer is “fair and reasonable” given the current economic climate.
How strike will bite and ways to beat it
Rail: DLR and Overground services expected to run normally, although there could be problems at interchanges such as Bank, Canary Wharf and Whitechapel. National Rail is unaffected.
Tube: services wound down from mid-afternoon today with station closures across London. TfL say disruption is likely to “most journeys”. London Underground will try to run a limited service on most lines but this is dependent on staff and passengers are advised to make other arrangements. Volunteers at stations will help passengers with alternative travel options.
Buses: London's 700 hundred routes expected to be very crowded despite an extra 100 buses on key routes.
Driving: thousands of extra cars expected on the roads, but the Congestion Charge remains in force.
Taxi: Paddington and Euston station will operate schemes to share a black cab with four other people. A taxi marshalling service will run at Waterloo, Liverpool Street, King's Cross, Charing Cross and Marylebone. The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association said: “During a Tube strike, everyone leaves at 5am and the roads are gridlocked. It's better to leave at 10am and go home late.”
Cycling: Demand for pay-as-you-ride “Boris bikes” expected to be high. Escorted TfL cycle groups meet between 7.30am and 7.45am tomorrow for 8am departure to the West End and City from Ravencourt Park, Finsbury Park, Mile End, Swiss Cottage, Brixton and Clapham Common.
River: about 10,000 extra seats available on boats, including an extra shuttle between Tower, London Eye and Westminster piers.
Reader views (88)
"In case you haven’t heard passenger numbers on the Tube have gone up along with fares so you might be in recession but we certainly aren’t."
Yet ticket purchases are down because of oyster, which is where the cuts are, which is the whole point.
"Boris promised to keep ticket offices open so either he didn’t have a clue what he was talking about or he was lying through his teeth from the start."
No, as I explained, the economic environment is radically different than the one he campaigned in. Many public sector workers find this concept difficult to understand. Its a £160bn deficit. Think about that.
"Oyster cards were introduced specifically to reduce the need for manned ticket offices so these job cuts have be coming for years and LUL/TfL have been lying to the station staff all this time, it’s hardly surprising they’re not happy campers."
That's a real tragedy, have you considered making it into a movie? An epic tale of heartbreak and loss. Those of us in the private sector would have a hard time believing the movie isn't fiction! And personally, I think everyone should have a big red button installed in their flat so they can shut down all of London's transport whenever they are unhappy.
"Pointless strike that could have been avoided with a bit of subtlety and intelligence, something sadly lacking on both sides."
There is only one side on strike. There is only one side disrupting the lives of millions of Londoners.
- Pepik, London, 07/09/2010 19:26
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Firstly may I clear some things up before I start. For some of the posters on here I would like to say that I am working class and come from a family which were dockers and printers so have strong union roots. I also voted Tory in the last election for my own reasons.
What the RMT and TSSA are doing is centred around greed, no doubt. I have been in tube stations late at night and have seen plenty of trouble occur - one of the consistencies in all cases is that the staff at the station did not help and members of the public called the police. Now I am sure some brave souls exist but I back most not to involve themselves (neither would I actually).
Taking staff out of ticket offices would make NO difference to safety or the service provided. The unions know it and so dos Mr Crow who is a career politician who I can guarantee will be running for a seat in the Commons within 10 years.
In the scheme of things its just another pointless strike and most of us have seen it all before but in the context of the union movement which was formed to do a particular job the way the leaders and members behave is beneath contempt. To hold workers to ransom is unethical but it was such behaviour which led to the crushing of most unions in the 80's and it is why they will all be a shell of their former selves before long including the RMT and the TSSA. Its sad but power corrupts as todays issues have proved - stop whinging and do what the rest of us do...get on with it or quit.
- Phil, London, England, 07/09/2010 13:24
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Let's get one thing straight: despite what any of the tube workers posting below might claim, this strike is purely about unions trying to protect their members' jobs by holding London to ransom.
If it were really about safety, the HSE would be involved and the Unions could do all sorts of things, rather than striking, to get their concerns heard.
These tube workers do not care one bit about the ordinary Londoners who pay their wages, they are quite happy to make it near impossible for people to get to work by striking time and time again.
When we consider the real issue - jobs - it is also worth remembering that it is, again, ordinary working Londoners who have to bear the cost of keeping unproductive tube workers' jobs open.
- Passenger, London, 07/09/2010 07:32
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boris is all right,he has his trusty bike hence avoiding the day to day grind of a pathetic transport system which he does his very best to avoide. try using the transport system boris on tuesday and dont forget to invite the media to see how you got on. what great tv that would be.
- james, london.E12., 07/09/2010 01:44
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just because people say they dislike socialism does not mean they are tories.most people couldn't care less one way or the other.socialism, like the malignant disease that it is, has crawled into every corner of our lives, as it was set up to do.
- davo, spain, 06/09/2010 22:46
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train driver if thats what you are you are a disgrace i actually believe you are a member of LUL management staff no one not even an aslef union member would bad mouth another union or a fellow colleague! LUL are compromising staff and it will be the train ops next they are already cutting down the DISI book but you should know that? just because it is not train ops jobs at risk does not take away the fact that we need station staff to be able to do our job safely. im disgusted in your behaviour towards other members of staff.
- Real Train operator, london, 06/09/2010 22:46
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Pepik – In case you haven’t heard passenger numbers on the Tube have gone up along with fares so you might be in recession but we certainly aren’t. If the government are so keen on recouping the deficit why have they just let Vodaphone off a £6bn tax bill? They pick and choose who has to tighten the belt and who gets to carry on guzzling at the trough, the fats cats won’t go hungry.
Boris promised to keep ticket offices open so either he didn’t have a clue what he was talking about or he was lying through his teeth from the start but then he made a lot of promises that he’s failed to keep.
Oyster cards were introduced specifically to reduce the need for manned ticket offices so these job cuts have be coming for years and LUL/TfL have been lying to the station staff all this time, it’s hardly surprising they’re not happy campers.
Pointless strike that could have been avoided with a bit of subtlety and intelligence, something sadly lacking on both sides.
- ASLEF shrugged, Leyton, UK, 06/09/2010 22:34
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Jane, London, 06/09/2010 21:47
How are LUL's plans so terribly unsafe?
No one is being forced to quit or being made redundant.
I agree once the natural wastage has happened there will be less front line staff but every station will still be staffed.
As a Train Operator safety is as important to me if not more so and the truth is the are very few incidents that occur that require more than a few staff to resolve.
I recently attended a fatal one under, a traumatic and tragic incident that was well managed by 2 members of staff including evacuating the station - the emergency services did the hard part.
So how is this all so unsafe? Be specific don't just roll out the old Kings Cross story as the network is vitually a whole different system since then and thus not comparable.
- Train Driver, London, 06/09/2010 22:12
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- Anon, London, 06/09/2010 21:39
I'd have put money on a reply such as yours appearing, how very predictable.
Honestly answer me this question. How many members of Station Staff do you know will be forced down to the Job Center as a result of LUL's plans?
No hype, no RMT propaganda, no inflamatory response for the sake of it - just a number, how many?
- Train Driver, London, 06/09/2010 21:58
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"Bob Crow makes a six figure salary and drives to work. The fact that he has chumps like "National Rail Worker" to carry water for him only makes him laugh harder on his way to the bank."
Just to correct you there, Bob Crow uses the Central Line to get to work.
- Anon, London, 06/09/2010 21:51
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We know we will not be made redundant, so this is really about safety, not our jobs.
In these economic times, we would not take on a strike and an overtime ban lightly.
I have worked during other strikes over pay, but I feel I have a moral duty to support this one. Accidents do inevitably happen and I want to have a clean conscience that I have done what I can to highlight the way money is being put before peoples' safety.
- Jane, London, 06/09/2010 21:47
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"All RMT Drivers: see sense, see this action is wrong and pointless, see that Londoners will suffer, see the loss of a days pay and when you next book on - see your ASLEF rep and join a real union, a union that negotiates instead of just balloting.
- Train Driver, London, 06/09/2010 21:13"
In other words, don't support your station staff colleagues as they are the ones to lose many of their jobs and not the train drivers.
- Anon, London, 06/09/2010 21:39
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"Note to all Londoners: strikers are not permitted to wear London Underground Uniform whilst taking part in industrial action so if you see a member of staff in uniform tomorrow then please consider the fact they have probably crossed a picket line whilst being abused to help you with your journey, please don't give them a hard time."
Many, many thanks for pointing this out.
- Pepik, London, 06/09/2010 21:24
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The RMT is being totally irresponsible to it's members and Londoners. They should not expect it's members to take strike action and lose pay in a battle they stand no chance of winning.
This is RMT striking for the sake of striking and nothing else, pawns in Bob Crows egotistical games.
LUL inherited massive debts from the collapse of Metronet and has to manage these debts, TFL also have to be seen to be efficient as possible to secure as great as possible a budget from the DfT. The company has to change and have a responsibility to all London Transport users to be as efficient possible.
LUL are reducing positions not staff numbers at this time, there are no compulsory redundancies - any member of staff that wants to remain working for LUL can do so.
I WILL be at work tomorrow, providing certain safety standards are met I WILL be driving a Train and helping fare paying Londoners to get about.
Note to all Londoners: strikers are not permitted to wear London Underground Uniform whilst taking part in industrial action so if you see a member of staff in uniform tomorrow then please consider the fact they have probably crossed a picket line whilst being abused to help you with your journey, please don't give them a hard time.
All RMT Drivers: see sense, see this action is wrong and pointless, see that Londoners will suffer, see the loss of a days pay and when you next book on - see your ASLEF rep and join a real union, a union that negotiates instead of just balloting.
- Train Driver, London, 06/09/2010 21:13
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Bob Crow makes a six figure salary and drives to work. The fact that he has chumps like "National Rail Worker" to carry water for him only makes him laugh harder on his way to the bank.
Apparently the only way we can guaranty safety on the underground is to have overpaid jobs for life for militant unions. If you would believe that you would believe anything.
"Boris promised not to cut these jobs...now he backs the job cuts."
Boris was campaigning in early 2008. In case you haven't heard (i.e. you work in the public sector) the economy isn't what it was back then, and we have a £160bn deficit. Really, time to start paying attention to the real world.
- Pepik, London, 06/09/2010 21:13
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Oh sod off you conceited toffs! Do you really think that your aimless, patronising and abusive rants will achieve anything?
- The Satisfied Socialist - here for your annoyance!, London, 06/09/2010 21:03
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"Having abandoned the sham 'safety' argument, the socialists move on to spelling errors.
Keep digging.
- Pepik, London, 06/09/2010 17:46"
Are you incapable of addressing a point without using the word 'socialist' totally out of context? No? Didn't think so!
- National Rail Worker, London, 06/09/2010 20:55
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"maybe the rest of the RMT could take a small pay cut or give back some of their holidays to pay for these vital jobs.
oh wait...
- scotty, london, 06/09/2010 17:43"
Oh look who it is!
The commuter that can't spell his name or start a sentence witha capital letter!
I knew you'd be back the minute a tube story comes up - the temptation was too hard for your arrogance to resist!
- National Rail Worker, London, 06/09/2010 20:50
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I work for Lul and a couple of things have concerned me from the posts on the site they say no compulsory redundancies but no staff are getting laid off how does that save money they are not only cutting ticket office they are also taking away station staff my home station is losing staff from both sectors we struggle to cover the duties now most stations are kept open by overtime soon there will be no staff to cover that means station closures.Howard Collins said on tv staff have been consulted about the changes NO we have not also they say if we want a job we have a job yet no one can tell us where or what we are doing we will have about 500 staff spare with nothing to do now that's not a waste of resources is it
- Markymark, London, 06/09/2010 20:03
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With all due respect
If TSSA call a strike you know something is seriously wrong.
- LU service control, london, 06/09/2010 18:57
Never a truer statement and it goes to show how badly TFL is now being managed since Boris became Mayor.
Over 60 comments and yet no one has mentioned the fact that after 2 years as Mayor Boris has still not met the unions at TFL this simply shows how totally unsuited he is to run London.
You see him when its fancy dancers or opening on of Kens Transport projects (I suppose users of Kingsbury Station on the Jubilee Line who are disabled are waiting for him to find time to open the lifts that are now working!!).
I think the transport unions should call Boris bluff by going to ACAS and ask them to arrange a meeting with TFL and the Mayor (whose supposed to be chair of TFL - but then he supposed to be chair of the MPA!!) and ask them to arrange a meeting on the long term consequences of changes to ticket sales since the introducetion of OYSTER. Lets see Boris response if further action is called off!!
We should remember that Boris said he would keep ticket offices open before the mayoral election while visiting the Silverlink Station where a passenger had just been murdered.
As for ticket offices well DLR Stations dont always have ticket offices but the larger ones like Woolwich Arsenal still have offices where staff can be found if an incident arises.
Anyway why cut 400 staff if this is about re-allocation?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 06/09/2010 20:02
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As the unions insist that the main issue here is the safety of the travelling public, then why not instruct the Health and Safety Executive to examine the potential effects of the proposed changes in staffing levels? At present all that we are hearing is a war of words, with LU management insisting that the proposed changes will not compromise customer safety and the unions insisting that they know better. If both parties could add a little more substance to their claims and submit their arguments to an independent regulator for further investigation then perhaps the situation could be resolved.
- Eric The Brontosaurus, London, UK, 06/09/2010 19:58
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Good luck to the strikers, its 2 unions on strike not one, something must be wrong, maybe TFL are dodging the truth, when were these "10 tickets an hour" sold, the week we had snow in January maybe?!? And Boris promised no ticket office closures, now he wants them closed, id rather have my station all the time its open in case of an incident!
- Simon James, London, 06/09/2010 19:56
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With all due respect
If TSSA call a strike you know something is seriously wrong.
- LU service control, london, 06/09/2010 18:57
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This rabble led by Crowe do not give a damn for anyone. I wonder what the Communist party are paying him. I bet he retires on a vast pension.
As for security one rarely sees any, certainly not from the ticket offices. We won't miss this bunch.
- michael, London, UK, 06/09/2010 18:45
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As someone who is on strike I feel for everyone who faces problems getting where they are going but there is always emphasis on the unions/staff for striking but never on managers for letting it happen too.
Boris promised not to cut these jobs...now he backs the job cuts. This IS about safety, it will only get worse and I for one would not like to travel during these times having seenf first hand what a complete lack of proper training people like the signallers/station staff get to cover strikers its like a crash course in the job and off you go.
Not something one would expect from a world class tube for a world class city.
The TSSA have not had a strike on LUL for a huge amount of time and rightly or wrongly has been labelled a union that doesnt strike...well guess what, they are now. Maybe that should also show that things are worse than London Underground are telling people. I do not want to loose a days wages and I will not be able to recover them but I feel it is worth doing for the bigger pictures.
- SO4, London, 06/09/2010 18:39
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Does anyone remember new years day 2002?
Bob Crow was set apon by 2 men with iron bars and given a sound thrashing. As far as I know to this day the perpetrators have not been caught as the 14 million people who are in London on a week day have taken a very long time to interview.
@ Disgruntled tube worker. Sadly a man has never set foot on the moon. My grandfather was the first man in England to have the moon landing pictures and was told to retouch them.
This would be the same grandfather who's company under the last labour government was held to ransom by the unions. His answer was to ask all of his staff on a Friday afternoon which ones still wanted a job on Monday, in south america.
Guess what. Those who wanted to go went and those who threatened my grandfather with the unions were out of a job on Monday morning.
Note to conservative government: My grandfather wouldn't be threatened and didn't take prisoners. I expect the same from you.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 06/09/2010 18:03
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Pepik, London. You completely missed the point of my post, whilst at the same time falling into the same trap as our beloved "Frank Home Counties". You don't have to be a Socialist to support this strike (you are clearly a right winger, though I choose not to taunt you for that unfortunate affliction in the way that you do in taunting Socialists), just to realise that job cuts, cuts in the frequency of train and track safety inspections, all of which LU has planned will compromise, surprise, surprise...safety. People like yourself have clearly forgotten events like the King's X fire, or indeed the Potter's Bar crash. Cut back on safety check, cut back on staff and guess who end up as the victims: Staff and the travelling public.
- Oliver, London, 06/09/2010 18:03
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Disgruntled Tube Worker, Watford, Herts, 06/09/2010 17:03
Are you at work today ?
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 06/09/2010 17:13
Ironically no - I am on Leave. My leave was allocated to me by the company on a schedule given to me at the beginning of the year. I do however reluctantly support the strike as I believe it is the only way to make the point that reducing staff on stations will make them less safe, and will increase the risks when a minor or major incident occurs.
- Disgruntled Tube Worker, Watford, Herts, 06/09/2010 17:57
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How MUCH does and engineer earn (with and without overtime) and how much of a payrise do they want?
- Bulion, Ealing, 06/09/2010 17:48
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". You obviously meant to say "your" not "you're". For that lack of command of basic English maybe you can be forgive."
Having abandoned the sham 'safety' argument, the socialists move on to spelling errors.
Keep digging.
- Pepik, London, 06/09/2010 17:46
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maybe the rest of the RMT could take a small pay cut or give back some of their holidays to pay for these vital jobs.
oh wait...
- scotty, london, 06/09/2010 17:43
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Much more detail about why this is happening, that is good, well done Evening Standard. However, the question remains: HOW MUCH DO THIS ENGINEERS EARN (BASIC) AND HOW MUCH DO THEY TAKE HOME? WHAT DO THEY WANT IF TWO PER CENT IS NOT ENOUGH?
- Bulion, Ealing, 06/09/2010 17:42
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"Ian F.These workers have voted in a ballot to strike.If you do not believe in democracy then you are either a communist or fascist.Not too many commies on here.The RMT has always been against unmanned stations."
The Police cannot strike. Essential public should not be allowed to strike.
And its hilarious to be called a communist by someone defending Bob Crow, given how much time comrade Bob 'Dear Leader' Crow spent in the Communist Party.
The RMT is a parasite on the London public. End the extortion - ban strikes on the underground. Its disgraceful that in 2010 the RMT can shut down London over voluntary redundancies. We deserve better than this racket.
- Pepik, London, 06/09/2010 17:42
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"Ian F.These workers have voted in a ballot to strike.If you do not believe in democracy then you are either a communist or fascist.Not too many commies on here.The RMT has always been against unmanned stations."
The Police cannot strike. Essential public should not be allowed to strike.
And its hilarious to be called a communist by someone defending Bob Crow, given how much time comrade Bob 'Dear Leader' Crow spent in the Communist Party.
The RMT is a parasite on the London public. End the extortion - ban strikes on the underground. Its disgraceful that in 2010 the RMT can shut down London over voluntary redundancies. We deserve better than this racket.
- Pepik, London, 06/09/2010 17:42
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Just remember, the RMT members hate London and people that live in London.
- Carl, London, 06/09/2010 17:32
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We are all very tired of these Luddite union bosses making our daily lives a misery. Get rid of that old Trotskyite Crowe, smash the unions and allow the capital city to get to work - in the real world someone has to pay the bills !!!!
- Kevin Bollox, London, 06/09/2010 17:30
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Something that keeps getting lost in this firstly is that there are no compulsory redundancies. Anyone who still wants a job in the company has one. The tfl budget could not go on the way it has and it seems every department is being hit. Why should operations be ring fenced when savings have been identifed and can be made? The way the Unions shout about previous rail incidents is shocking. It seems all Mr.Crow cares about is a soundbite with his 'muggers paradise' quotes.
The safety issue is non existent but the unions know that is all they have and are now trying to drum up as much impact on any incident that happens. Most ticket office staff will be displaced onto the gate line, in the open where they can be of more use instead of behind a glass barrier!
London will pull together and carry on and i also hope the public recognises those volunteers and staff tomorrow who do not strike and attempt to move as many people around as possible, London Underground is doing a great job in mobilizing people to help counter the effect of this shocking strike action.
- Jamie, London, 06/09/2010 17:28
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Frank, Home Counties. You obviously meant to say "your" not "you're". For that lack of command of basic English maybe you can be forgive. For your rude and patronising comments towards those whom you label as Socialists (as if it were some kind of dirty word), you can not. You are somebody who seems incapable of making his point without making it personal or offensive. Very sad.
- Oliver, Barnet, 06/09/2010 17:15
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Disgruntled Tube Worker, Watford, Herts, 06/09/2010 17:03
Are you at work today ?
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 06/09/2010 17:13
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Ian F.These workers have voted in a ballot to strike.If you do not believe in democracy then you are either a communist or fascist.Not too many commies on here.The RMT has always been against unmanned stations.
- colin, barking essex, 06/09/2010 17:09
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To Disgruntled Tube Worker,
I applaud your efforts and commitment during the incident you describe. However I think a trained security staff person could probably compete with a trained ticket officer if the challenge is running up and down escalators herding crowds of people.
It is not really like comparing brain surgery to rocket science, is it?
- David, London, 06/09/2010 15:48
David, London,
thank you for your kind comment. You are correct, a trained security staff person could probably compete with a trained ticket officer if the challenge was only "running up and down escalators herding crowds of people". The real challenge can be what may await them when they arrive at the platform. This could be anything from a fire, suspect package, to a person under a train, to name but a few of the incidents we can and do deal with. What level of training would a trained Security staff need to work on a station? What kind of Salary would this role demand? Would these Security staff join a Union? Would they strike?
Anyone can attempt to perform brain surgery, but only someone who has been properly trained and has the right attributes would be successful at it. There are a lot of people who successfully launch rockets (especially during Guy Fawkes Night), but to get a man on the moon, took a lot of ingenuity and taxed some of the worlds greatest brains. Credit, where credit is due.
- Disgruntled Tube Worker, Watford, Herts, 06/09/2010 17:03
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Good luck to the strikers.Lets end slave labour.
- dave, london, 06/09/2010 17:03
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Nickspurs, London, 06/09/2010 15:08 - You are spot on. I have been saying forever that these unions will hold the city to ransom in 2012 to get their own way. They will ensure that we all lose out. I hope they don't get what they want. These are greedy, self interested people who don't care about anyone elses inconvenience. Geez you would think they were the only ones being affected by this recession!
- Maya, London, 06/09/2010 17:03
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As an ex -Londoner, I sympathise with everyone down there as I experienced 3 or 4 of these strikes in the 15 years I resided in the capital. On a recent trip to London I was charged £4 to travel one way from Warren Street to Victoria and felt that I had been mugged! Do I miss living in London and having to rely on the Underground? hell no!
- Aiden Jones, Birmingham, UK, 06/09/2010 16:54
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National Rail Worker: "that is why this time we are striking - to stop any erosion of safety levels by reduction of staff". And what evidence of such 'erosion of safely' can RMT offer? Perhaps safety record of NYC's subway after MTA installed Metrocard machines? Or maybe that Barcelona metro?
Now, £40-45k p.a. jobs are indeed worth protecting. Problem is, not only you are doing it at our expense, you also claim that you are doing for our benefit. Which a step too far - you can get away with abusing my wallet (just), but have no right to insult my intelligence! 
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 06/09/2010 16:52
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if the put upon workers and the venerable Mr Crow are about helping the publeic and providing a better service, then why wait for teh very first day after schools are all back and system is back to peak usage to inflicty maximum misery on the very customers they are supposed to be providing a service for
C*** and his bunch of socialist throw backs are simply selfish self servers trying to get a bit more power over the innocent public . This has nothing to do with safety simply union bully boy tactics in the
run up to the TUC
Bravo lads we will all enjoy our long walks home in the rain
- Paul, London, 06/09/2010 16:48
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In this day and age strikes are a relic from the stone age. There should be a system of forced arbitration set in place to resolve these issues.
The transport industry should be declared an essential service and therefore all strikes made illegal.
- London expat, Victoria,Canada, 06/09/2010 16:44
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Weird all the comments on here are from men - you simply dont appear to get that the female travelling population feels much safer with a manned ticket office. Nor do most of you appear to know that tourists, the disabled, the elderly, those with cash which the damned machines refuse to take, and those who need to add credit to get them out of the station need a ticket office for advice as well as tickets. We are not all sufficiently athletic to vault the barriers if our ticket isn't working
- redsquare, london, 06/09/2010 16:43
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Mr Bob Crow might be genuine about his concerns etc. But the more I see and hear what he is rambling on about, the more I get this sense of 'Deja Vu' about the Unions. That they are spoiling for a fight with the Tory - Lib-Dem coalition for political reasons. It's all reminiscent of the 1970s & 1980s when the like of 'King Arfur' of the NUM took that once great Union into oblivion on the backs of a rigid Marxist-Leninist Commie dogma.
I say this as a retired Member of Unison. i am getting a tad tired of the Left Wing Luvvies and Pseudo-Commies trying to infiltrate the Unions now. Maybe that's what they are really are about _ They believe that they should run the country like they did under the Labour administration in the late 1970s. Maybe the Unions want a compliant Labour Party back in government doing as it is told!!
I just want to see my country back to some normality after 13 years of stinking, slimy pseudo-marxist-leninist stink from an incompetent Labour Party.
Now we have that chance, the likes of Mr Crow are squeezing their stinking 'Political Cojones' hard to try their luck once again.
- Uncle Vanya, Worn Out Tax Slave of East Anglia England UK (Now Owned by EU-rine Land), 06/09/2010 16:37
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I agree tat a security staff would do better than a ticket officer but the problem is that Tfl are not going to replace or redistribute the 800 workers into becoming security or surveilance staff.
I do however agree that ticket offices are athing of the past. I am originally from barcelona and although we do not have oyster and still move around with old-fashioned paper tickets very few stations actually have open ticket offices and machines have replaced these. although the amount of outlets you can buy tickets from is also much greater since you can buy transport tickets very easily from cash points.
- David, London, 06/09/2010 15:48, Maida vale, 06/09/2010 16:24
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"""Frank, Home Counties. You're such a right winger! On top of that your contributions on here are so predictable. Don't you ever get bored?- Oliver, London, 06/09/2010 12:30"
Oliver, how can you tell what position he plays from an email? Amazing!!
- Trevor, Wapping, 06/09/2010 14:11"
That is easy. Many of the regulars on here are tory supporters. The moment somebody of a working class background has an opposing view they'd receive a rather predictable response including the use of the word 'socialist' - almost like it's some kind of derogatory remark possibly to give themselves some satisfaction and an ego boost!
The Tories are useless politicians - making so many pledges and then making a U - turn on them. Boris Johnson promised to keep tickets offices open, now he plans to cut them.
Whether you as a commuter use the ticket office or not, there are a number of people out there that depend on one such as: The disabled, Tourists, First - time travellers.
- National Rail Worker, London, 06/09/2010 15:14"
...and there was me thinking he meant 'right whinger'.
- Trevor, Wapping, 06/09/2010 15:51
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To Disgruntled Tube Worker,
I applaud your efforts and commitment during the incident you describe. However I think a trained security staff person could probably compete with a trained ticket officer if the challenge is running up and down escalators herding crowds of people.
It is not really like comparing brain surgery to rocket science, is it?
- David, London, 06/09/2010 15:48
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In response to Disgruntled Tube Worker,
The fire was caused by a discarded cigarette from an unknown person. I do not remember Underground staff lobbying for any additional safety measures before the disaster so to try to connect the tragedy with the current demands is disingenuous to say the least. Please let's not kid ourselves. This strike is about simple job preservation at a time when jobs are disappearing.
- Ian F, London, 06/09/2010 11:47
Ian, your absolutely right, the unions did not lobby for any additional safety measures before the disaster that is why this time we are striking - to stop any erosion of safety levels by reduction of staff. We, the station staff, have learnt by the mistakes of the past - clearly LU management have not. I used the example of King's Cross as a clear case of what can happen if LU get safety wrong, for you to call it "disingenuous" is showing that you have little respect for those who tragically died, or were injured. I knew someone who was injured, and I feel that your comment is inappropriate.
- Disgruntled Tube Worker, Watford, Herts, 06/09/2010 15:44
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Try the subway it's the only ways to go!
- John, New York, 06/09/2010 15:39
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""Frank, Home Counties. You're such a right winger! On top of that your contributions on here are so predictable. Don't you ever get bored?- Oliver, London, 06/09/2010 12:30"
Oliver, how can you tell what position he plays from an email? Amazing!!
- Trevor, Wapping, 06/09/2010 14:11"
That is easy. Many of the regulars on here are tory supporters. The moment somebody of a working class background has an opposing view they'd receive a rather predictable response including the use of the word 'socialist' - almost like it's some kind of derogatory remark possibly to give themselves some satisfaction and an ego boost!
The Tories are useless politicians - making so many pledges and then making a U - turn on them. Boris Johnson promised to keep tickets offices open, now he plans to cut them.
Whether you as a commuter use the ticket office or not, there are a number of people out there that depend on one such as: The disabled, Tourists, First - time travellers.
- National Rail Worker, London, 06/09/2010 15:14
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So the Union dinosaurs strike again, just wait for the Olympics I guarantee they will be threatening all sorts to get a pay rise. This has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with the Union protecting jobs and flexing their muscles. We have a system which is expensive, unresponsive to the needs of customers (eg no late night wkend runnning) and a joke and the fault lies with the mgmt, TFL, politicians and the Unions. That said, strikes solve nothing so get back to your jobs or you should be fired which as an earlier poster said worked for Reagan. In the private sector if we don`t like things we get another job, why should you be any different. I call on the govt to bring in legislation to ban striking in these types of services.
- Nickspurs, London, 06/09/2010 15:08
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The RMT wants to preserve jobs that are no longer applicable (i.e ticket office (over)manning). I am sure that, if the RMT were around a hundred years ago, there would still be demands to retain the jobs of those who cleared up the streets after the horses had been there.
Very simply, the RMT is concerned about safety (as I understand it). I do not believe that the ticket office staff would leave the comfort of their offices if an incident happened in their station. Replace the staff with security staff. (I daresay that Bob Crow would not approve as they would not necessarily be members of the RMT.)
- Ian F, London, 06/09/2010 11:37
Ian, only 450 of the jobs are actually ticket staff, 150-200 are Barrier/Gateline staff (CSA's), the rest are managers, admin etc.Ticket office staff hold the same license as CSA's and in an Emergency provide valuable assistance.
RMT is an amalgamation of unions who can trace their roots back to 1871. So they were around in Horse drawn days.
During one of the last evacuations at my station, by the time I had reversed one of the escalators and had reached the second bank, a Ticket office staff was running down the other escalator and was then evacuating one of the platforms while I did the other. That's proof to me that they do leave their ticket office during an incident.
replace staff with security staff, do you really believe that Security Staff would be able to handle an emergency situation without the training we have received?
- Disgruntled Tube Worker, Watford, Herts, 06/09/2010 14:56
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To Colin,
Interesting argument tactic. When the logic of your position fails (or is not there), accuse all people who do not agree with you of being Nazis (which is what you are inferring by straight arm saluting). Where does unmanned stations come into it? I don't remember the RMT striking or doing anything to prevent BR stations being unmanned.
I think that the general public would feel a lot safer with trained security personnel manning stations rather than people safely tucked up in ticket offices with nothing to do.
- Ian F, London, 06/09/2010 14:52
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There is no point any tube worker trying to justify this strike to the straight arm saluting,foaming at the mouth Mail readers.Only when they are mugged or in need of help on an unmanned station will they get the message.
- colin, barking essex, 06/09/2010 14:29
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August holidays are over and the RMT union thought they deserved a bit more holiday.
Happens every year and its getting a bit boring now.
- Simon, London, 06/09/2010 14:22
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The fire at Kings Cross may have have been caused by a discarded cigarette .However the reason that many of the peaople died is that there where unsufficient numbers of staff to help people find their most direct route out off the station .After the the inquest legistation was put in place that mandated a mininum number of staff to operate stations safely. Tony B.Liar rescinded this ,So now the situation is that Tfl state that the minimum numbers are in place , but they are able to change these at will If there should be another disaster and people die this man will have even more blood on his hands .
- mark, london, 06/09/2010 14:19
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"Frank, Home Counties. You're such a right winger! On top of that your contributions on here are so predictable. Don't you ever get bored?- Oliver, London, 06/09/2010 12:30"
Oliver, how can you tell what position he plays from an email? Amazing!!
- Trevor, Wapping, 06/09/2010 14:11
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To Rod and RMT Worker,
What did the ticket officers do on 7/7? We do not need ticket office staff. We do need people to make stations more secure. So far, precisely two incidents in the last 24 years have been brought up and I am not sure, outside of the emergency services, where ticket office staff helped?
With regard to the strike costing so many million pounds, I wonder where this information comes from. Some people (such as I) will take the day as part of my holiday allowance (so no additional cost), some will work from home (so very little additional cost) and some will work shorter hours and still complete their allotted tasks as time goes on.
Once again, this strike is only about job protection and must be faced down. It will take a few strike days but as the strikers lose more money and commuters find alternatives, the strikes will fade away.
- Ian F, London, 06/09/2010 14:08
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rmt worker - you sound like you think you're a policeman or another member of the emergency services. You're not, you're a TFL employee and you know as well as the rest of us that this strike has nothing to do with safety. It's about preserving jobs and nothing else.
Or are you really that brainwashed and naive?
Move with the times or ultimately die - Darwin called it the survival of the fittest and it so applies to the unions!
Wake up pal.
- Galland, Abeville, 06/09/2010 13:50
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Must only be the high flyers that are being told to go home early.I have been told to work my normal hours and that if I dont come in on time tomorrow,not to bother comming back.Its a rich mans world.
- dave, london, 06/09/2010 13:50
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@ Oliver, London
Not as long as socialists continue to leach of our country, economy and society.
Go away and stick you're head back in the ground.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 06/09/2010 13:45
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Ian F, London
We want safety. Quite simple - and the people "in the know" realise it will be compromised by losing staff from stations. Bringing in private security with little knowledge of the Underground will do nothing to help if there is a tradegy. I now see that the staff who are commenting on this page are not concerned with politics (FRANK take note for once!) but are dedicated to their "customers" and their wellbeing. They wont be paid for this industrial action but feel strongly enough to make a point....why are some people assuming they are all one group without their own minds? I find this attitude demeaning and the class war goes on..........
- Rod, Epping, UK, 06/09/2010 13:34
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As in every dispute for the last 10 years, the RMT are only interested in personal gain. They use safety as an excuse to demand more for their members - simply because it's hard to argue against. But they have no responsibility for safety, except for abiding by TfL safety procedures as per their employment contracts. TfL are responsible for tube safety: if an incident occurs the RMT would not be in the dock, TfL would. Sooner or later we should have the Regan solution (as per air traffic controllers): give notice to the whole tube workforce and re-employ / replace with new stff under new terms. If it worked for air traffic controllers it will surely work for tube staff incl. drivers.
- Factman, London, 06/09/2010 13:25
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Why not every day they strike, shut them out for a day without pay.
- shallotman, Basildon, 06/09/2010 13:23
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RMT Worker: "we are showing that our jobs and safety are important". Indeed you are - at the expense of risking ours but precluding us from getting to work. So yes, comrade, you are holding us ransom for personal gain.
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 06/09/2010 13:19
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Ian,
It seems you THINK you know a lot about our jobs do you work for LUL? And for your information when ever there has been an emergency ticket office staff do come out they was there when the bombs went off its crazy how members of the public so easily forget what we actually do for them it seems that you like the company won't do a thing unless people loose there lives because of cutbacks remember this when you have a relative who needs our help but we are no where to be seen!
- rmt worker, london, 06/09/2010 12:30
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Frank, Home Counties. You're such a right winger! On top of that your contributions on here are so predictable. Don't you ever get bored?
- Oliver, London, 06/09/2010 12:30
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@ Sara, London
Don't be so naive.
These socialists are holding London to ransom for their personal greed.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 06/09/2010 12:01
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strikes only work when the public support the action...
they do not support this one.
- daveb, london, 06/09/2010 12:00
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In response to Disgruntled Tube Worker,
The fire was caused by a discarded cigarette from an unknown person. I do not remember Underground staff lobbying for any additional safety measures before the disaster so to try to connect the tragedy with the current demands is disingenuous to say the least. Please let's not kid ourselves. This strike is about simple job preservation at a time when jobs are disappearing.
- Ian F, London, 06/09/2010 11:47
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To Rodders,
I don't think there is any similarity between the fire strikes and the current underground workers' strikes.
The RMT wants to preserve jobs that are no longer applicable (i.e ticket office (over)manning). I am sure that, if the RMT were around a hundred years ago, there would still be demands to retain the jobs of those who cleared up the streets after the horses had been there.
Very simply, the RMT is concerned about safety (as I understand it). I do not believe that the ticket office staff would leave the comfort of their offices if an incident happened in their station. Replace the staff with security staff. (I daresay that Bob Crow would not approve as they would not necessarily be members of the RMT.)
- Ian F, London, 06/09/2010 11:37
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I do not know the full facts about why this dispute has escalated - but I know one thing for sure. I do not just rely on newspapers to put across a balanced view of the full facts. As a firefighter who has recently been balloted for strike action, I realise how little the public are aware of the indecent proposals behind the publicised reasons for industrial action. Please view the Union's website to familiarise yourselves with ALL THE FACTS before rubbishing public servants and dismissing their claims. Nobody WANTS to strike - sometimes we have to take unpopular decisions to protect taxpayers (you and me) from dangerous and ill-conceived ideas.
- Rodders, London, 06/09/2010 11:22
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Maybe every vital public service should go on strike every time they're not happy about everything like the tube employees do. Then the whole country could grind to a halt.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 06/09/2010 11:02
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Who appointed the Trades Unions as the impartial Guardians of Public Safety?
- Anglo, Sussex England, 06/09/2010 09:23
Because no one else is worried about it. King's Cross 1986, 31 people died. This was one of the previous occasion's that LU ignored Public Safety. Google King's Cross fire if you want to know more.
- Disgruntled Tube Worker, Watford, Herts, 06/09/2010 10:41
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Please stop reading into the rubbish the company are putting out about it not cutting corners we work here we know what's happening everyone thinks were holding london to ransom but we are not doing that we are showing that our jobs and safety are important no one wants to see anyone get hurt. Its a shame a lot of people have lost there jobs mabey if they had a union and all stood together they could have saved some. It is about us wanting to save jobs and it definitely about us wanting it to be safer if I have a threatening person on my train one day I will want staff there to keep you and myself safe if we compromise this now I promise you people will get hurt and possibly loss of life. No one wants to strike we just want to show you and this company we are needed did u know all our bosses gave themselfs a 10% pay rise this april? They say we are taking more passengers than ever but have no money??
- rmt worker, london, 06/09/2010 10:33
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Oh how is wish what you say was true, Sara. The unions are the most profligate liars when they use 'safety' as an excuse for anything that gives their members advantages. It is simply not true.
- John, St Albans, 06/09/2010 10:31
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Anglo, as far as I know nobody, but isn't it assuring to know that at least one section of the company (the workforce) are concerned about our safety?
- Sara, London, 06/09/2010 09:43
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'because of strikes by London Underground workers
It's a case of the MORLOCKS verse the ELOI
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 06/09/2010 09:42
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I never thought I'd miss the Great Newt Fancier, but in Ken's day the boats were free on strike days ... very pleasant too on a sunny day!
- Paul, London, 06/09/2010 09:36
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"Blackmail" is the only way the RMT can get their way. One thing you have right Tilak "The country is run by a bunch of jokers," only I would use stronger words. There is no difference between this new government and the last lot, only this lot will make the poor pay, for the mistakes of the rich in government.
- Fredrick, London, 06/09/2010 09:29
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Let us just close the tube system down, that will solve all the safety problems. Mr Crow and his daft ideas for strikes. I have never seen such incosiderate individuals, they don't care about the millions of Londoners working hard to make ends meet.
Boris is busy with his bicycles & he thinks it is going to beat the strike.
I am now just speechless.
- Londoner, London, UK, 06/09/2010 09:26
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Who appointed the Trades Unions as the impartial Guardians of Public Safety?
- Anglo, Sussex England, 06/09/2010 09:23
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This country seems to be run by a bunch of jokers. The RMT evidently has a ruthless understanding of how well blackmail works to achieve demands though they are only following the example of everyone else, like bankers, engaged in grand larcency with the full complicity of a duplicitous political class. As for 100 extra buses one does know if this useless ex-playboy mayor is just rubbing salt into the wound since without the suspension of parking charges (leave alone the congestion charge) it is not possible to park for the entire working day in most of London (at £4 an hour and having to move the car every two hours!) Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad!
- Tilak, Stanmore, UK, 06/09/2010 09:16
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