More than 150 Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) train operators and station staff working on London Underground’s Bakerloo line take 24-hour strike action this evening, following a dispute about their safety.
A decision by Tube bosses to change working practices to expect staff to supervise passengers leaving trains at stations north of Queen’s Park, even while working alone prompted a 94.5% vote in favour of strike action amid concern for their safety.
Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said that the union had already reminded London Underground that having two station staff, particularly in areas with high-crime levels, was a minimum requirement, adding that the company had refused to budge.
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He said: “We have already told London Underground that reducing station staff at Queen’s Park, Willesden Junction and Harrow and Wealdstone will undermine the safety of our members and is unacceptable.
“London Underground is still set on reducing standards of station staffing, which will expose more of our members to the risk of assault, and the strike will now go ahead,” Crow added.
