Vote defends rail safety

The RMT rail union reports that its members have voted by 76% for strike action and by 88% for action short of a strike to take place alongside what the union describes as a “political and public campaign to stop the attacks on jobs and safety” on the London Underground. Transport for London are proposing the axing of 800 jobs the union says are “safety critical”.

Last month RMT highlighted the vigilance and experience of station-based staff in spotting smoke from an escalator at Euston and an air-conditioning unit at Oxford Circus and ensuring the safe evacuation of both stations. It is these staff grades that are under threat, according to the union.

It also reported that the frequency of safety-critical inspections on train brakes and other equipment is to be reduced from fortnightly to monthly because of the pressure for cuts. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Less than two weeks after the Potters Bar inquest delivered the damning verdict that cuts to maintenance works, staffing and inspection frequencies create the lethal conditions that lead to avoidable loss of life, LU management have clearly learnt nothing and are burning up safety agreements almost by the day in the dash for cuts.”