Chelsea and Fulham MP, Greg Hands, has welcomed news that the RMT have agreed to call off their planned strike following talks with Transport for London. It means further unnecessary disruption to London and Londoners has been averted. The planned 48-hour London Tube strike was due to begin at 9pm yesterday evening, as part of an ongoing row over the modernisation of the Tube.
Hammersmith & Fulham, according to the most recent census, has more Tube users than any other Borough in Britain, so the strike was bound to be disruptive to Greg’s constituents. During the union led walk out last week nearly all lines on the Underground system were affected, including local District Line services, and Fulham Broadway and Sloane Square stations were closed.
Greg said of today’s announcement: “This is a sensible decision that will allow millions of Londoners to get on with their working and family life. It is especially good for my constituency which has the highest number of Tube users in London. I support the plans for the future of the Tube including 24 hours service at weekends from 2015 and more staff visible and available at stations to help passengers. However it is right that the important negotiations between the unions and TfL take place, but in a manner that will not cause unnecessary disruption to passengers.”
The Mayor of London and London Underground (LU) set out plans for the future of the Tube at the end of last year. They hope this will include a 24 hours service at weekends, move station staff away from ticket offices to help customers on platforms and ticket halls, and improve customers’ experience and safety. The transport unions are opposed to London Underground plans to close 260 ticket offices with the possible loss of 950 jobs.
After two days of discussions through the offices of the resolution services Acas, LU has proposed two months of sustained talks with the unions, starting on Wednesday. A station-by-station review will also take place, which Tube bosses said could result in some ticket offices remaining open.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "TfL's negotiators have been ready since November to discuss the detail around ticket office closures and wider modernisation of the Tube. It's welcome news that the unions appear to recognise that...Modernisation is essential if we are to properly serve the millions of Londoners who rely on the Tube every day, and who expect a bigger, better service that offers value for money whilst protecting future investment.”
Johnson added: "Sitting down to discuss those proposals, free from the prospect of strike action, was always the only sensible way forward. I'm grateful to TfL's negotiating team and pleased the unions agree this is the right way forward."