RMT confirms Boxing Day strike at key Bakerloo Line stations
Bakerloo Line station staff are set to strike on Boxing Day, as commuters face further misery over the Christmas holidays.
With a strike on the Central Line already set to hit Christmas shoppers, the RMT union now plans to withdraw station staff at key stops along the Bakerloo Line.
Staff will not turn up to work at Charing Cross, Elephant & Castle, Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus from 5am to 11.30pm on Boxing Day, and for 24 hours from 10.30pm on Sunday, 13 January.
It comes after members of RMT’s Bakerloo South Group voted to take action over Transport for London’s (TfL’s) alleged failure to ensure safe staffing levels.
“RMT members are rightly angry that staffing levels on the Bakerloo Line have been hacked back to the bone presenting a serious danger to staff and passengers alike,” Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said.
“Previous commitments to ensure safe staffing coverage have been flouted and in order to press the company to address the issues we have no option but to announce a programme of action.
“The union remains available for serious and genuine talks.”
Union staff will also refuse to help any workers drafted in to replace them familiarise themselves with the stations.
Brian Woodhead, London Underground’s director for customer service, said: “This action is entirely unjustified. We have adhered to all the commitments that we have made on staffing numbers across the network, and upheld the agreements made with unions as recently as last year. We call on them to withdraw this action, which will only cause unnecessary disruption for customers during the festive period, and to work with us to resolve this dispute without strike action.”