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TUBE workers’ union RMT hit out at unsafe staffing levels on the London Underground today following reports that waivers to safety regulations are being inappropriately used.
In a letter to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch highlighted a series of incidents where stations have had fewer than the required number of staff, or none at all.
He warned that the problems have been caused by de-staffing, particularly the cutting of 600 roles, over which RMT has taken strike action.
The letter said: “I have received multiple reports of senior operating officers issuing waivers that override minimum staffing levels that were established to ensure the safe operation of London Underground stations.
“Recently, for example, Barbican station was left completely unstaffed all day, while Farringdon was left open without the required level of staff.
“I am disturbed, to say the least, by what appears to be an emerging culture of using these waivers to cover up the under-staffing of stations.”
Mr Lynch wrote that it was clear the stations cannot be kept open in compliance with safety regulations, demanding a moratorium on staffing reductions and an immediate investigation into the use of waivers to avoid minimum-number regulations.