Tube staff vote on strike
LONDON UNDERGROUND (LU) staff will start voting today on whether to launch a strike which would hit millions of commuters.
The dispute between trade union RMT and LU is over job security for ticketing workers who currently face up to 800 job cuts and the closure of 240 ticket offices, according to the union.
“LU appear to be willing to rip up the safety rule book when it comes to staffing levels,” said RMT general secretary Bob Crow.
But LU argued that the use of the Oyster technology meant that only one in 20 journeys involve interaction at a ticket office window.
Howard Collins, chief operating officer at LU, said: “We are committed to delivering these changes with no compulsory redundancies. The safe operations of our network remains at the top of our priorities.”
The ballots closes on 11 August.