Tube workers to strike against station staffing cull

Posted in Tubeworker's blog on ,

London Underground station staff have delivered a whopping Yes vote to industrial action in defence of staffing levels, and will strike for 24 hours on New Year’s Eve and again eight days later.

The ballot result was as follows:

For strike action:

  • 1,327 votes (84.6%) in favour
  • 241 (15.4%) against

For action short of strike:

  • 1,435 (91.8%) votes in favour
  • 129 (8.2%) against.

The ballot result proves beyond doubt that station staff are ready and willing to fight over this issue. Hopefully, this will banish the doubts amongst some union officials, who were previously sceptical as to whether the members were up for it.

This is the first time ever that RMT has called strike action by London Underground stations and revenue grades alone, and four thousand of us will strike. Whilst we should of course be looking for opportunities to spread the action to other grades and make our fight even stronger, it is good to see this confidence in the ability of station grades to put up a fight.

So now, we need to ensure that the two strike dates are as solid and effective as possible. Tubeworker would not have chosen New Year’s Eve for a strike – we prefer action to hurt big business’s profits rather than working-class people’s social life. But the dates have been named now, and that argument is over.

In any case, station staff are understandably angry that management have the cheek to expect us to work on New Year’s Eve without any bonus. Their excuse is that all-night running is part of the 35-hour week deal. But the deal has not yet been implemented, and LUL’s plan is to implement it in a devastating, unsafe way.

The press, of course, will lambast us for taking action. Don't be demoralised. Remember: it is LUL's fault that we are having to strike, as it is LUL who are trying to force through de-staffing. And the press would attack us anyway, whichever day we decided to strike on.

In the run-up to the action, we need to:

  • make sure that union activists talk to every member, and make sure they are clear about the strike arrangements and clear about the arguments
  • sign up any remaining non-members, and the many TSSA members who want to be part of this action
  • organise pickets if and where practical
  • urge RMT to produce leaflets that we can hand out to the public explaining why we are striking.

Admin grades should refuse to do strikers’ work on New Year’s Eve. After all, if the company gets away with this staffing massacre, it could be your job on the line next.

We would also urge drivers and signallers to think carefully about how safely they can work with most station staff out on strike. Remember: you have the right to refuse to work if you have genuine safety concerns.

After this initial action, reps and activists should meet up to decide what we want to happen next. We have a massive mandate both for further strikes, and for action short of strikes eg. an overtime ban or refusal to work revenue duties.

Better still, LUL might have backed down by then. Until they do, stay solid.

Previous coverage of this issue on Tubeworker’s blog (in reverse date order):

… and in previous issues of Tubeworker:

Read RMT’s press release here.

Tubeworker topics

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 31/12/2005 - 12:42

I wish the LU staff that supported this strike had some grasp on reality. You will be getting a 35hour working week!! This is luxury compared to the hours of most other workers. So the new Oyster system has meant less staff required at ticket offices- LU has already stated that there will be no job losses- only a repositioning of some station staff. What is the problem?? There are far too few staff visible on station platforms etc at the moment anyway.
I am one of those poor unfortunate people called 'customers' who have to pay those vastly overflated fares for the 'service' of London Underground. I have not spoken to a single person who has any sympathy for the strikers- they are seen by the public as lazy, cushioned by a Union which operates like a depressing throwback from the bad old days of the 70s. It's cretins like Bob Crowe and the actions of the RMT that undermine the whole idea of having a union by using their power to hold Londoners to ransom. The principle of Unions is sound- they should be used as a power to protect workers from geniune injustice at the hands of employers. Not to take the piss like this.

Submitted by Tubeworker on Sat, 31/12/2005 - 20:53

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

1. I think that workers should try to get the best conditions possible, not the worst. If we didn't fight for improvements because there are other people who are worse off, then no workers would ever fight for anything, and we would all be in the shit.

2. RMT has accepted the loss of 200 positions in the ticket offices. But LUL has gone a step further and is trying to get rid of station supervisor positions, station assistant positions, and those platform staff you are so keen to more - rather than less - of.

3. The "problem" is that some stations will be left dangerously under-staffed.

4. It is LUL/TfL management - and the Mayor of London - who set the fares (which I and most Tube workers totally agree are over-inflated), so why take their side in this dispute?!

5. If LUL gets their way, it will be you and other passengers who will suffer when there are no staff available to help you in an emergency, keep the train service running smoothly, or just answer a question.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/02/2006 - 12:14

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I hope you enjoyed the extra wait for your ticket on monday morning.(Unless you are one of the luck ones who live near a very quite station)
If you did have a longer queue, then welcome to the new norm..
better get used to it.

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.