STATION STAFFING & SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS, POST-IMPLEMENTATION OF FIT FOR THE FUTURE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/386/16) 9^th December 2016 on the above matter, the overtime ban remains on and has been well supported by our members, who should be congratulated for taking action.

I can advise you that discussions have been held with LUL management at Acas, along with our colleagues from TSSA, to discuss the crisis caused by Fit for the Future. It was the first time your union has held face to face talks with LU Directors since previously having 7 days of intensive talks.

The company offered a phased response to the crisis that would mean that, first, a small amount of control room positions were planned to be put back and approximately 60 additional posts at CSA2 would be recruited for and hopefully in post by the Spring next year. They also indicated that additional CSA2s would be recruited into the New Year at 25 posts a month. However, as pointed out by your negotiators, this missed the issues at the heart of the dispute as CSA2s cannot cover the work that has been removed by the abolition of 873 posts. Additionally, the huge concerns around health and safety won’t be touched by this and nor will any pressures be eased on anti social rosters.

A report on the above was given to the National Executive Committee, which has instructed me to arrange a meeting of reps to discuss organising strikes on the matter in the New Year. The NEC also instructed me to discuss the progress of the dispute with the General Secretary of the TSSA, which I am currently arranging.

I will keep you advised of all further developments.