Union fears for Underground ticket office jobs

THE RMT railworkers union fears that ticket offices in 144 tube stations including some in the East End could face closure under London Mayor Boris Johnson s �5 billion savings package. Union spokesman Geoff Martin said he thought offices at stations whi

THE rail union RMT fears that ticket offices in 144 tube stations could face closure under London Mayor Boris Johnson’s �5 billion savings package.

Offices at stations which are not interchanges or at the end of lines could be under threat with up to 1,200 jobs going, the union believes. It could even include busy stations like Bethnal Green in East London which is only served by the Central Line.

Staff who earn up to �25,000-a-year are trained in evacuation techniques and to be aware about security issues, the union points out.

But Transport for London insisted nothing had been decided.

“We are also committed to staff on all of our stations throughout the day,” said a spokesman.

“Given the current economic climate and the need to be ready for the changes when the Tube is upgraded, we are looking at how we can be best organised. No decisions have yet been made.”