IMPORTANT UPDATE - KEEP TICKET OFFICES OPEN

Dear colleague, 

 

I am writing to let you know that it has been announced this morning that the ticket office closure consultations, which were due to close today after just a 21-day consultation period, will now be extended until 1^st September. 

 

Campaigning by RMT members and activists in conjunction with disabled peoples’ groups, passenger groups, politicians and others has undoubtedly forced the Government and train companies’ hand. Under the original timescales they wanted this process completed by the end of August. 

 

Transport Focus have confirmed that over 170,000 consultation responses have already been received. That so many responses have been submitted is undoubtedly as a result of the amazing efforts of RMT members, reps and activists to mobilise around this vital campaign and get the message out to as many passengers as possible and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your work. 

 

We now need to ramp up our campaign over the coming weeks and maximise public opposition to these proposals. Get the message out to the public that their opposition is working and they need to keep up the pressure on the train companies and Government to ensure the whole closure programme is abandoned. 

 

When the consultations close on 1^st September, there will be a 35-day period during which Transport Focus and London Travelwatch review the consultation responses. At the end of this period, they can either object or accept the operators’ proposals. Where Transport Focus and London Travelwatch object to closures, and the train company still wishes to proceed, it will then be referred to the Secretary of State for a decision. As we know, the Government has been vocal in its support for ticket office closures, but if this happens, we will be taking our campaign directly to the Government. 

 

Campaign postcards which are already printed can continue to be used, and we will be ordering more materials and announcing more days of action and campaigning events very soon. If you have run out of campaign materials and would like to request more, please email saveourticketoffices@rmt.org.uk and these will be distributed to you once more materials have been printed. 

 

Regarding the staff consultations it is likely that this process will continue but may be delayed and the union will be seeking formal clarification on this point from the train companies and I will advise you of the position as soon as possible.. 

 

We are aware of two legal challenges being taken in relation to the consultation process, one by a group of Labour metro mayors and one by disabled passengers. We are monitoring these developments closely and will continue to remain in contact with these organisations and the union will also be considering all options, including legal measures to halt the ticket office closures. 

 

Make no mistake, whilst it is clear that the consultations have only been extended as a result of the pressure arising from our campaign, this is not enough. Our campaign to protect all ticket offices must now intensify and our message to the Government and train companies is clear – these proposals are bad for passenger safety, security, accessibility and bad for staff. They must abandon all of these damaging proposals once and for all. 

 

I will keep you updated on developments and in the meantime if you have any questions about our campaign, email saveourticketoffices@rmt.org.uk

 

Yours Sincerely, 

Mick Lynch

General Secretary