Thursday, 6 February 2014

The London (U.K.) Underground strike.

Usually if there is something which is causing problems in a lot of people's lives, you hear complaints, grumbling, muttering. Having been out and about today in London... and queued for longer than usual at the bus stop, I didn't hear one complaint by people about the strike by underground workers... not one.
People weren't enjoying it and there was a lot of quiet information being offered on which bus to catch or how long the wait would be...but no complaints... Just a determined stoicism.
This backs up a survey done by the RMT, from which I quote:

Tube Users Oppose Ticket Office Closures

RMT Commissioned Survation to seek the views of Tube users to find out their views on Ticket Offices.
The survey of a thousand tube users demonstrated overwhelming opposition the proposals to close ticket offices. 
•         71% of tube users would be quite concerned or very concerned if ticket offices were closed down
•         52% of tube users had experienced being unable to buy tickets from a machine because it was broken
•         Tourists , essential to the London economy , are even more worried about ticket office closures with 81% either quite concerned or very concerned.
•         Amongst those who voted for Mayor Boris Johnson in 2012 56% said that they would be less likely to support a candidate for Mayor who acted to close ticket offices after pledging to keep them open.
•         78% of regular commuters said that they thought current fares are too high.

I personally think people are also very concerned about safety at tube stations and not finding help when they need it.
There is a leaflet put out by the RMT, "Why we are striking". It is downloadable from their website  as a pdf.  They are asking people to email London Mayor Boris Johnson mayor@london.gov.uk and Mike Brown, MikeBrown@tfl.gov.uk
For suggested text for an email visit www.rmt.org.uk/everyjobmatters

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