Andrew Dismore

 

• Figures obtained by Andrew Dismore AM suggest where 588 frontline staff are set to be cut from across London Underground stations, with some stations losing up to 58% of staff.
• More than 32% of visible staff set to be axed from West Hampstead and Warren Street stations in Camden.    

Analysis of TfL staffing plans by Labour London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore, has shown that under current proposals staffing levels across London Underground stations are set to be cut by an average of almost 16% from January.

In Camden, the following stations will see major staff cuts:

• West Hampstead – reduction of over 37% (or over 3 full time equivalent staff)
• Warren Street – reduction of over 32% (or over 5 full time equivalent staff)

The projected changes show that 216 stations will have their staffing numbers cut, with around 588 staff due to be shed in total across the network.

The staff cuts will come as part of the planned closure of all the capital’s tube station ticket offices, despite the Mayor previously pledging to protect all ticket offices from cuts. The staff cuts vary across the tube station network with some stations losing over half their staff.

Andrew Dismore AM, Labour London Assembly Member for Camden, said:

“It beggars belief that, with tube fares due to rise by 2.5% in January, Boris Johnson has the nerve to cut front line staffing levels at stations by an average of 16% across London. In Camden we will lose upto 37% of staff from West Hampstead for example, leaving passengers being forced to pay more money for less staff support.

“Politicians are often in the business of demanding more for less. It seems in this case Boris Johnson is happy with tube passengers getting less for more.

“The issue isn’t necessarily whether staff are based in ticket offices or on the station concourse, but whether staffing levels can provide all customers – especially the disabled and elderly – with a good service. I am calling on TfL to address this issue and to await the outcome of TravelWatch’s consultation survey before finalising plans. It is deplorable that TfL is not carrying out its own station by station consultation, so it is even more important that they take TravelWatch’s findings into account.”

 

ENDS

• Andrew Dismore is the Labour London Assembly Member for Camden and Barnet.
• Proposed staffing changes to all stations across the Underground network can be viewed online here, and a ranked version of the full data, sorted by level of cuts, can be found here.
• Stations suffering the highest levels of cuts include:

o   Barons Court – reduction of 58% (or 6.5 full time equivalent staff)

o   Edgware – 58% (6.9 staff)

o   Finchley Central – 57% (5.8)

o   Kilburn – 56% (6.2)

o   Dagenham Heathway – 56% (5.6)

o   Parsons Green – 56% (5.7)

o   Plaistow – 55% (6.4)

o   Stanmore – 55% (6.4)

o   East Ham – 54% (7.4)

o   Southfields – 53% (5.1)

o   Golders Green – 53% (6.9)

o   Upton Park – 51% (5.4)

o   Hammersmith – 50% (5.4)

• In 2008, Boris Johnson ran for Mayor on a promise to oppose all ticket office closures, even signing a petition ‘Nick Clegg tuition fee style’ in front of the cameras.

• London TravelWatch’s consultation on London Underground ticket office closures can be accessed here.