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In The News: RMT Respond To Whitechapel Ticket Office Closure Threat

The threat of the closure of Whitechapel ticket office has been reported in both the local and national press.

RMT has registered its strong opposition to plans to remove the ticket office from Whitechapel station during the process of rebuilding the station for it to be served by Crossrail. The plans totally ignore the fact that the station serves an area which includes a busy market and a major hospital. The area is also known for its diverse local population, many of whom need to access staff support at an open ticket office rather than rely on ticket-issuing machines – machines that are vulnerable to vandalism.

East London Lines reports that "The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) rallied members and supporters in a move to raise community awareness over the threat to ticket office services." and quotes RMT Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley saying “The ticket office is an essential service to the public. Not everyone is comfortable using technology.”

"RMT is in no doubt that if the Whitechapel ticket office is axed it will open the floodgates to a surge of closures in the drive to de-staffing" - Bob Crow

The Morning Star Online reports that LUL refuse to state how many stations face the axe and that the RMT have warned that Vauxhall has also been added to Tube bosses' ticket office hit list.

The BBC London website reports the RMT saying we 'will take any action necessary - including strike action - to prevent the closure of a London Underground ticket office.' The article also recalls the leaked TfL document "which In 2011...showed that it was considering closing all but 30 ticket offices."

The Docklands & East London Advertiser covered the story tooquoting RMT General Secretary Bob Crow; who said "RMT is in no doubt that if the Whitechapel ticket office is axed it will open the floodgates to a surge of closures in the drive to de-staffing, which will turn the Underground into a criminals paradise and leave passengers who need support and advice stranded."

The campaign against the closure of Whitechapel and any ticket office continues. We have a petition with over 750 signatures; which you're encouraged to sign. There will also be more events coming up - such as our demo at Mayor's Questions yesterday.

More stories about the threatened closure of Whitechapel Station can be found at http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/savewhitechapel.