Staffing just the ticket

Published: 6 January, 2011

• COUNCILLOR Gio Spinella castigates the Tube strike on Boxing Day and alleges that “one of the pretexts for this industrial action was the impending closure of a number of ticket offices... [which] are not economical to keep running” (Look at the timing and the detail of Tube strike, December 30).  

Maybe they’re not; but the presence of the staff running them is a great source of reassurance for passengers, especially women, concerned about their safety, particularly late at night.

My understanding of the reason for the Boxing Day strike is that Tube staff were expected to work that day – a bank holiday and a Sunday – for their normal pay, with no time off in lieu.  

No one – apart from people providing essential services – should have to work on such a day. Anyone who does have to work is fully entitled to have this recognised by being paid at double (at least) time and/or time off in lieu.    

Cllr Spinella states that the closure of the ticket offices was originally decided by Ken Livingstone, who is now vociferously opposing it. Maybe, now that he has had time to think about it, he has changed his mind, something everyone has the absolute right to do. 

It’s a great pity that the Coalition, headed by Cllr Spinella’s party, cannot admit it is wrong in making so many cuts.  

MARGARET KING
Belsize Grove, NW3