23.01.14
Travel Ambassadors to ‘keep London moving’ during strikes
TfL will bring over 1,000 travel ‘Ambassadors’ into Tube stations in the event of strikes in February.
The company announced that staff had signed up to be Ambassadors, and would be stationed at Tube ticket offices to keep customers informed and keep the service running smoothly. They will be joined by volunteers to minimise the disruption caused by RMT strikes on 4-6 and 11-13 February.
The strikes concern TfL’s plans to close all Tube station ticket offices, which would affect 750 jobs.
LU and RMT leaders will be meeting at Acas to try to resolve the dispute ahead of the planned industrial action.
Phil Hufton, LU’s chief operating officer, said: “Under our plans to modernise the service we offer our customers all of our stations will remain staffed and controlled by our people at all times when services are operating. In fact, we will have more staff visible and available in ticket halls and on platforms to help customers buy the right ticket, plan their journeys and to keep them safe and secure. We’re also committed to implementing these changes without compulsory redundancies. There’ll be a job for everyone at LU who wants to work with us and be flexible.
“Given these assurances, we urge the RMT and TSSA union leaderships to end their strike threats and to work with us to shape the future of the Tube. However, should a strike go ahead, we’re determined to keep London moving and open for business and our TfL Ambassadors will play an important role. All a strike will achieve is lose those who take part four days’ pay.”
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(Image c. John Stillwell and PA Wire and Press Association Images)