Workers' Liberty

It is important that RMT explains to the public why we are striking. Passengers have an interest in supporting our action, because we are defending staffing levels and safety. But despite this, the typical biased media are misrepresenting the facts. Sadly, the union is not doing enough to tackle this. In the absence of an official leaflet from head office, local activists in some areas have produced their own. We reproduce here the text of a leaflet drafted by activists on the Northern line. Why not use it in your area, perhaps adding details of staffing cuts at your stations?

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WHY AM I STRIKING?

Earlier this week the RMT offered to suspend ALL strike action to ensure that the Tube service is running for New Year’s Eve/Day and 8th/9th January. All that the RMT asked in return from the management was that they suspend the introduction of new rotas and agree to enter into detailed discussions in January. LUL flatly refused to entertain this goodwill gesture, preferring to see you without adequate travel facilities than to act like adults and discuss the matter. So what’s the problem with the proposed rotas?

In short, no matter how London Underground will try to convince you, hundreds of posts are to be culled across the network. Every station-group in Zone 1 will lose staff. Ticket offices are going to be unmanned. Wherever you go there will be less chance of finding help when you need it. Full-time posts are to be replaced by part-timers. All of this is being imposed upon us all without the necessary safety review and consultation beforehand.

The thing is, all staff will have shorter hours for the same money. We’re also getting more holidays as part of the “deal”. You would think we’d be happy, but we’re not here just for the money and holidays. We care about the jobs we do and we care for the safety of the travelling public: our families and friends also travel on the Tube.

On the 7th July this year, London and its people were victim to a cowardly attack on its transport system. This act of terrorism shook us all and we are still reminded by our management to remain vigilant as the threat of further attack remains. After this horrific day, it was declared that London Underground staff were “heroes” and, yes, many truly were. The right people were there to do what had to be done and I am proud to be working with these people.

But with the threat of another attack one wonders “where will the heroes be next time?”. I’m telling you, they will not be there for you, myself, my friends and my family. When you fall down an escalator, when you’ve been assaulted, when you faint in hot weather, when you’re walked down a tunnel from a faulty train there will be less help, less quickly. At some locations there will be marginally more staff at peak times, then … a ghost-town. The “eyes and ears of the Underground” will be gone. Once we were heroes, now we’re expendable.

All this, and your Zone 1 single fare will rise to £3 in the New Year! What are you getting out of this? Nothing. Is it any wonder you will not have heard any of this before?

Each day I strike, I will quite rightly lose a day’s money. I think this is a small price to pay if it helps to secure the safety of all those that use our Tube. I hope that you begin to understand the position I find myself in and will support what I and my colleagues are trying to achieve. We did all that we could before we found ourselves here and I personally apologise for the disruption my actions may cause to your plans.

I have no doubt that everybody from the RMT would like to wish you a happy and safe New Year, as do I. Take care.

LESS STAFF IS LESS SAFE

A VERY CONCERNED TUBEWORKER