Tube Job Cuts Hit London Terror Targets

A new analysis of London Underground Ltd's (LUL) plans for station job cuts has revealed major terrorist targets are in the front line of the proposed reductions in Tube staffing numbers, the union RMT has warned. Worst hit locations include Oxford Circus, which would lose 42 per cent of its staff and Bank, facing a 28 per cent reduction.

Canada Square, the station serving Canary Wharf, would lose a quarter of its staff (25 per cent) and Victoria, London's busiest station, would lose almost 1-in-5 staff (19 per cent), the union analysis shows. The flagship Eurostar terminal at Kings Cross would lose almost 1-in-6 staff (17 per cent).

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "At a time of heightened terrorist alert it is gross negligence on the part of LUL to be hacking back the numbers of station based staff at key targets like Canary Wharf, Parliament and the Bank of England."

Referring to the current enquiry into the 7 July 2005 terrorist bombings in London, where the Tube system was a major target, he added:

"The 7/7 inquiry has shown that those very same staff played a vital and heroic role in that emergency situation and taking them out will clearly compromise the ability of the Underground to identify terrorist threats, safely evacuate stations and deal with the aftermath of any incident. This is yet more evidence reinforcing the safety case against LU's cuts plans and we repeat our call for that cuts process to be brought to an immediate halt and for discussions on a long term, safe and secure future for the Tube to begin."

Source: TUC Risks

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