- Figures obtained by John Biggs 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 50% of visible staff set to be axed from Plaistow and East Ham stations in Newham.
Analysis of TfL staffing plans by Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs 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 Newham the following stations will see major staff cuts:
Plaistow , a reduction of 55.17% , 6.4 full time equivalent staff, East Ham a reduction of 54.41%, 7.4 full time equivalent staff and Upton Park, a reduction of 50.94% or 5.4 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.
John Biggs AM, Labour London Assembly Member for City & East London, 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 Newham we will lose over 50% of staff from three of our stations 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.”