Press Release


Tuesday 9 December 2003

Staff won't work on New Year's Eve if stations are unsafe - TSSA


TSSA, the Tube's second biggest rail union, has warned London Underground (LUL) that their plans for staffing stations on New Year's Eve are insufficient and raise serious issues of passenger safety.

The union will be advising its station staff - including platform supervisors and station managers - not to work on New Year's Eve unless these issues are resolved.

TSSA believes that there will be insufficient staff to cope with the levels of people using the Underground in London on December 31.

Hundreds of thousands of revellers are expected to flock into town with the busiest stations such as Covent Garden, Embankment and Tottenham Court Road forced to operate with a skeleton staff.

Many stations outside Central London such as North Greenwich and West Ham will also heavily used by people coming home from parties and nightclubs.

TSSA is concerned that passengers, many of whom will have been drinking, will be placed at risk if there are not enough staff to help them on and off trains.

There is also a risk that some stations will be left unattended while staff take scheduled meal breaks, and some station staff will be forced to work on their own.

Negotiations officer Rick Justham said: "London Underground cannot afford to scrimp on staff costs at the expense of passenger safety. Why are LUL are choosing to scale back staff on the busiest night of the year for the Tube?"

"We are calling for a full risk assessment of stations and that they are staffed in a proper manner to ensure that both staff and the public are safe."

"We are frustrated that LUL did not consult with union reps before planning rosters for working on New Year's Eve."


ends

For further information, please contact:
 Hannah Leggett, press officer
(020) 7529 8059 or 07769 682806 (mobile)


Notes to Editors

1. TSSA is the second biggest tube union, with around 3,500 members who work in London Transport. Typically, TSSA members on LUL are station managers and assistants, ticket barrier staff, fare collectors and administrative staff.
2. LUL will be running a limited service on New Year's Eve on all lines Staff working after 10 o'clock will be paid a one-off bonus of up to £200
3. Minimum station staffing numbers at major stations are as follows:

4. Unofficial figures suggest that 70,000 people will come to see the Brightening Up London display, 25,000 people will visit The Dome and 245,000 will gather around Trafalgar Square.