TUBE union RMT is to leaflet rush-hour passengers at Euston station tomorrow morning, Wednesday, August 11 over cuts to safety and safety-critical jobs.
This follows revelations that fire detection systems at the station failed last month, creating the potential for a major disaster that was only avoided by the actions of a vigilant member of station staff.
RMT also confirmed yesterday that it has written to London Underground requesting that all fire detection equipment at sub-surface stations be inspected within the next 72 hours under Section 12 Fire Regulations which were introduced after Kings Cross.
The Euston fire, which has close parallels with the Kings Cross disaster in 1987 one stop up the line, was caused by mechanical friction in the closed chamber underneath an escalator igniting accumulated dust and grease.
Fire detection systems failed and the smoke was spotted by staff members who activated the manual evacuation procedure and closed the station averting a potential disaster.
The RMT is pointing out that it’s those very staff who are among the 800 jobs that are currently under threat from London Mayor Johnson’s cuts and which are subject to a current ballot for industrial action which closes tomorrow.
Another fire alert was again raised by tube station staff last Friday in the morning rush hour at Oxford Circus where an air conditioning unit ignited and was spotted by staff members who safely evacuated the station.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: ‘The two recent fire incidents at Euston and Oxford Circus show once again that it is vigilant and trained staff at station level who are critical when it comes to spotting potential danger and activating emergency evacuation procedures – yet these are the very staff that TfL are looking to axe in a cull of 800 tube station posts.
‘If anyone wanted a clear example of why we are currently balloting for action over the axing of safety-critical tube jobs they need look no further than the role played by staff at Euston and Oxford Circus.
‘If those station staff hadn’t been on duty we could have had major disasters on our hands.’
The RMT, meanwhile, is preparing a ballot for action of all tube fleet maintenance staff following an announcement by London Underground (LU) that it plans to double the length of time between safety-critical train inspections from 14 days to 28 days.
The RMT alleged: ‘The inspections of braking systems and other equipment crucial to staff and passenger safety are being cut in frequency as a blatant cost saving measure which is just part of the overall cuts drive being bulldozed through by Transport for London.’
The union has warned that these latest tube maintenance cuts are another element of an overall attack on jobs and safety that would leave fleet staff facing the threat of the axe – a threat that London Underground has not denied.
All RMT LU fleet staff will be balloted for action short of a strike.
RMT general secretary Crow said: ‘Hardly a day goes by now without TfL and LU getting caught out playing fast and loose with staff and passenger safety.
‘These fortnightly inspections identify worn brake blocks, cracks in securing brackets and other distressed components.
‘Moving these inspections to monthly is literally dicing with death in the interests of saving money.
‘Highly skilled fleet maintenance crew are the latest group of tube workers to find that their jobs are under threat as the TfL cuts bulldozer ploughs on regardless of the consequences.
‘Mayor Boris Johnson is presiding over the biggest safety carve-up on London Underground in its history and yet he remains silent on these issues as his managers are out there sharpening their knives.
‘RMT has a stark choice – ballot for action or sit back and wait for a disaster to unfold. We have chosen to ballot for action.’