London Underground strike planned amidst safety and staffing dispute
In a move that threatens widespread disruption to London’s iconic tube transport network, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union (RMT) has declared an all-out strike on the London Underground, slated for Wednesday and Friday, 4 and 6 October. The announcement follows a protracted dispute between the union and authorities over substantial job losses and escalating safety concerns.
Mind the gap to services in October. Staggered strike days, a pattern familiar to train users on the surface, will hit the London Underground in just over a week. The heart of the matter lies in the proposed reduction of 600 station staff positions, a contentious issue that has simmered for over a year. The RMT trade union, which has called the strike, has voiced grievances regarding deteriorating working conditions, with particular emphasis on the impact of fewer staff members contending with heightened workloads, increased instances of lone working, and mounting fatigue levels.
Closures and compromised accessibility
If the plans go ahead, the likely consequence, warns the RMT, will be a surge in unstaffed stations, coupled with a potential dip in established safety standards. They say these potential job losses are set to reverberate throughout the entire London tube network, affecting not only stations but also maintenance operations. The issue was again highlighted in the recent Clapham Common ‘fire evacuation’ incident that left questions being asked about just how much luck had played a part in avoiding a more serious outcome.
“Station staff have a vital role to play assisting vulnerable passengers access the network safely”, said Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the RMT, as he sought to underscore the significance of station staff in passenger safety and accessibility. “[Their role is] ensuring that the tube is a safe environment for passengers.” Lynch went on to express concerns that the proposed cuts and alterations to conditions may lead to more station closures, exacerbating passenger frustration. RailTech.com has not seen any verified closure plans to back these claims, although Lynch could refer to reduced operational hours at some outlying stations.
Underground, overground, both on strike
The network was the recipient of a huge UK government bail out during the pandemic, when commuter traffic largely dropped. It has been a game of financial hard ball ever since. It is amidst these budgetary constraints faced by the operator, Transport for London (TfL), that the RMT argues that the anticipated savings from the station staff cuts would be outweighed by potential shortages and unacceptable risks to passenger safety. The impending strike has raised alarm among commuters and stakeholders alike, prompting a collective call for urgent dialogue between the RMT and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The union asserts that a meeting with the Mayor is crucial to finding a resolution that protects the interests of both staff and passengers. Minimum staffing levels have been central to policy on the Underground, ever since the fatal Kings Cross fire in 1987.
Minimum staffing requirements were subsequently enshrined in statute, with London Underground regulations further reinforcing safe staffing levels for stations based on their size and traffic. London’s dependence on public transport means the British capital is rather better provisioned with alternatives than other cities in the UK. However, Londoners are braced for potential transport upheaval in the first week of next month. Least it be forgotten, drivers above ground are also on strike on 4 October.
