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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2019 :: RMTnews
7
R
MT rallied outside City Hall
recently against plans to
decimate ticket offices and their
opening hours across the Arriva
Rail London operation with dire
consequences for safety, service
and accessibility.
The protest took place as
London mayor Sadiq Khan
chaired a Transport for London
Board Meeting at City Hall.
The union has been
campaigning against plans to
axe Overground ticket offices for
the past two years and although
the initial plans were pushed
back the union has now accused
ARL and TFL of trying to
smuggle through a closure
programme by stealth.
RMT is also balloting its
members on London Overground
for industrial action over the
proposed cuts.
The current plans would
mean many stations would only
be open 07:30 – 10:00 am,
Monday to Friday. The
proposals equate to a cut in
hours of over 65 per cent across
the Overground. Many stations
are facing cuts in hours of over
80 per cent.
If these cuts go ahead, and
many ticket offices are closed
for large parts of the day, RMT
is concerned that:
• Stations will become less
safe, secure and accessible.
• Passengers will not be able
to access all ticket types and
services at a machine.
•
Many people, including some
elderly and disabled
passengers, would struggle to
purchase tickets and get
advice.
•
It will be easier for London
Overground to close more
ticket offices and reduce
staffing even further in
the future.
RMT general secretary Mick
Cash said that the union was
making its voice heard over
these outrageous proposals.
“Having failed to close the
London Overground ticket
offices completely due to a
union and public campaign that
convinced London Travel Watch
to keep them open ARL/ TFL are
now trying to achieve the same
results by stealth.
“The consultative process has
been exposed as a sham and our
members are not prepared to sit
idly by when safety and
accessibility are once again
sacrificed for profit.
“The Mayor must step up and
demand these ticket offices
remain open and that TFL is
adequately funded to service all
the people of London equally
instead of employing measures
that will discriminate against
the disabled and vulnerable,” he
said.
RMT is asking people to
send a campaign postcard or a
model letter to the Mayor asking
him to use his powers to halt
the closures. The RMT campaign
page can be found at
www.rmt.org.uk
NO TO LONDON
OVERGROUND TICKET
OFFICE CUTS