UK union leader Bob Crow dead

[Dissolution]

Well it isn't a claim.

But I am fairly sure that other metro systems have significantly fewer station staff (Paris, Madrid, NYC, Chicago are ones I've used in the last year or so)

How are you sure?

 

[Francesca R]

Most of which are either significantly younger, and/or differently constructed, compared to the London Underground. Most are predominently - if not wholly - cut-and-cover, and thus have much less complex safety implications than London's deep tube tunnels.

Are you claiming London underground stations require more staff (at street entrance level) than cut/cover systems? (For the same level of safety)

 

[Information Analyst]

Are you claiming London underground stations require more staff (at street entrance level) than cut/cover systems? (For the same level of safety)

Deep tube platforms and tunnels certainly have greater safety implications than cut-and-cover platforms and tunnels. And, of course, staff do not routinely remain permanently "at street entrance level."

TfL has around 5,500 staff in 270 stations. Although that works out at an average of 20 each, with around 19 hours of operation per weekday (and accounting for staff leave), it's less impressive.

 

[Francesca R]

I think ticket office staff remain at surface level not platform level. These are the staff that the RMT is protesting about having their positions changed.

 

[Information Analyst]

I think ticket office staff remain at surface level not platform level. These are the staff that the RMT is protesting about having their positions changed.

You didn't specify ticketing staff, you said:

I am fairly sure that other metro systems have significantly fewer station staff

"Station staff" as a whole comprise far more than the minority of "ticketing staff."

 

[Francesca R]

The strike is about the closure of ticket offices. So I find your observation about the issue of platform level staff irrelevant.

 

[Information Analyst]

The strike is about the closure of ticket offices. So I find your observation about the issue of platform level staff irrelevant.

You think? The "ticketing staff" are actually designated "Station Assistant (Multi-Functional)," and you can see from this job description that their duties go far beyond sitting behind a window issuing tickets, and do include platform duties. They account for around 22% of the station staff, and you'll note that actual ticketing duties are an additional "where licensed" role which they have to work up to.

Replacing 1205 SAMFs with 660 Customer Service Supervisors is a net loss of 545 - an average of two per station that will no longer be available for the core non-ticket office duties you didn't think they have.

 

[Francesca R]

OK conceded--the move reduces platform staffing.