22.02.13
RMT campaigns against overcarrying on Underground
Tube drivers are campaigning outside Queen’s Park station today over staff and passenger safety on the Bakerloo line.
RMT members are protesting against LUL’s decision to stop station staff from checking carriages for passengers before moving into sidings. Drivers in RMT and Aslef have been physically checking the trains to avoid ‘over-carrying’.
The unions say LUL is cost cutting and the action has resulted in “substantial delays” to the service.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “The Bakerloo line drivers dispute is still rock solid five weeks on and if the company thought we would be winding operations down then they need to wake up to reality.
“It is bad enough that LUL seems happy with 3,000 overcarries on the Bakerloo in the last year compared with just 94 on nine other lines put together, but to lie through their teeth when our members have to take action to keep the public safe is despicable.
“The company have resorted to the most blatant misinformation to try and keep this dispute about passenger and staff safety out of the spotlight rather than using their time to get around the table with the unions to resolve the issue.
“Social media has been buzzing with angry passengers wanting to know why they are being delayed and not being told about it, and LUL should stop this ridiculous charade, admit they got this one wrong and reinstate the safe procedure they have banned in the interests of axing jobs and saving money.”
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