Union issues Tube strike ultimatum over jobs

The threat of strike action on the Tube increased dramatically today.

RMT union leaders have given London Underground until 5pm tomorrow to withdraw the threat of axing 800 station staff — which will particularly hit ticket offices — or it will ballot for strike action across the network.

Ticket offices will close at stations which have more than one entrance. These include Charing Cross (Trafalgar Square entrance), Monument, Canary Wharf East, Canons Park, Earl's Court (Warwick Road), Wembley Park (Bridge Road) and South Woodford (West).

Bob Crow, the RMT leader, said: "We have already warned the cuts being planned by Transport for London will turn Tube stations into a mugger's paradise.

"The RMT has made it clear right from the outset that we will not sit idly by while the Mayor and his transport officials drive down Tube staffing to dangerously low levels.

"If we have to ballot for action in the interests of Tube safety then that is exactly what we will do."

An LU spokesman said the cuts were being made because most passengers no longer use the ticket office and buy their tickets online or at one of the 4,000 outlets away from stations. He said there would by no compulsory redundancies.

Senior TfL sources said the cuts formed part of the Mayor's plans to axe spending by £5 billion.