RAIL customer information workers will walk out on Friday in a row with Transport for London over pay and pensions.

The strike will kick off during morning rush hour at travel information counters at five key travel hubs, also hitting telephone centres and services such as spot-checks on illegal taxi touts.

The 1,500 staff — mainly based at TfL’s Westminster headquarters and belonging to rail unions TSSA, RMT and Unite — plan further 24-hour stoppages if no progress is made.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes accused London Mayor Boris Johnson of provoking the walkouts by making staff carry the can for cuts imposed by central government.

He said: “Needless to say the suggested pay freeze and cuts to final salary pensions do not apply to senior managers at TfL.

“It is junior managers and supervisors doing vital work to keep London moving that are facing this cut in their living standards. 

“Clearly, we are not all in this together.”

TfL human resources director Tricia Riley said the proposed changes were to ensure that staff “are fairly paid based on their performance and their pay relative to the external jobs market.”

The news followed an 11th-hour deal to halt a planned three-day Tube strike by RMT members over ticket office closures.

The strike was due to start at 9pm last night but the action was suspended after RMT won concessions.