• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Tube strike called off after ACAS talks

October 9, 2014 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

tube_roundel_950Next week’s planned Tube strike has been suspended following talks between London Underground and the RMT union.

The 48 hour walk-out was due to be held in protest at plans to close ticket offices and axe 960 jobs.

London Underground says the ticket offices are being used by ever declining numbers of passengers due to the popularity of Oyster and predicts that the introduction of contactless fares will further reduce face to face ticket sales.

However the union says cuts in the number of station staff threaten passenger safety and will make it harder for mobility-impaired and other vulnerable passengers to complete their journey as fewer staff will be available to help them.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday morning, Tube MD Mike Brown defended the closures, branding ticket offices were a from the Victorian era and insisting it was right to embrace new technology.

Brown pointed to the fact that a million contactless journeys were made in the first week of the service launching on the Tube last month as evidence that the public was willing to embrace technological change.

He also repeated past assurances that he would never agree to unstaffed stations or reduce staffing levels to a point where they degraded passenger experience.

Announcing the suspension of next weeks strike, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said LU had agreed to reduce the number of job losses and agreed to guarantee the current salary and conditions to any staff with medical restrictions who are moved to new posts.

He commented: “The substantial improvements we have agreed allow us to move forwards but the Union’s core opposition to the austerity-led cuts on London Underground has not shifted an inch and we remain vigilant to further developments and their impact.”

However LU denied suggestions it had made concessions, insisting that it had simply provided “some basic clarity”.

Chief Operating Officer Phil Hufton said: “Nothing positive would be achieved through this strike action and this threat had no logic to it what so ever apart from attempting to disrupt hard working Londoners and their members losing two days pay.

“By simply continuing to talk without imposing unnecessary threats is obviously the best solution, which is recognised by the other trades unions.

“We have adhered to every single one of the commitments we made to our staff, including delivering on our guarantee of no compulsory redundancies and offering a job for anyone who wants to stay with us with no loss of pay.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.