LUL Asset Performance Directorate

TUBE UNION RMT today demanded an independent investigation into London Underground maintenance and staffing cuts after photographic evidence emerged suggesting that the train that hit the buckled lining on the Bakerloo Line in Thursday mornings rush hour came within inches of being ripped open like a sardine can with potentially lethal consequences.

A major incident on the Bakerloo Line last week a shut don for several hours. A defect of the tunnel wall was struck by the first trains of the morning. Once the cause was established a large section of the line was closed.

On the same day Tube Lines were on strike for equal pensions with colleagues at Lodon Underground.

We note the resolution from LU Engineering branch and the report regarding our ballot of APD Fleet members.

Attached is LUL's 'Refusal To Work On The Grounds Of Health And Safety' Document

You may find it useful to read, should you be concerned about carrying out a job or particular task, and want to know the procedure for refusing to work on safety grounds.

• What is RMT calling for?

The RMT describes London Undergrounds latest Olympic offer as ludicrous as it expects us to co-operate in the implementation of 'agreements' we are not a party to.

At ACAS talks today, RMT stated that we wished to discuss with LU management how to deliver the staffing arrangements needed in all grades to provide London with the transport service it needs in order to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games a success. We stated that RMT believes that this can be achieved within the parameters of existing agreements, and would explain to LU management how this could be done, expecting management to consider these proposals and give its views.

We note the report from our Regional Organiser. At ACAS yesterday (26 March), RMT made clear that in
order to proceed with talks we need a statement from management that no RMT members will be forced to break Framework Agreements. This has not yet been forthcoming from management, and until it is, all talks are adjourned.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note that a well-attended meeting of our London Underground representatives unanimously recommended rejection of London Underground’s Olympics offer, taking the firm view that any offer should be for all grades and that there should not be any changes to the rules governing working conditions set out in the Framework Agreements. We therefore reject London Underground’s offer.

Attached to this post, you will find London Underground's letter to RMT setting out the company's offer to staff for Olympic working, consisting of:

• a letter from LU
• a document giving its 'flexibility' demands
• and an appendix for each of the four functions affected
  • Asset Performance Directorate
  • Stations and Revenue Control
  • Service Control including Duty Reliability Managers
  • Operational Managers in COO and APD, including Network Operational Learning Trainers

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the offer from London Underground, of an additional £350 lump sum payment to all operational staff in each of the following functions, dependant on the trade unions agreeing to changes in working practices detailed in the correspondence:

• Asset Performance Directorate
• Stations and Revenue Control
• Service Control including Duty Reliability Managers
• Operational Managers in COO and APD, including Network Operational Learning Trainers

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from London Underground and the feedback from our branch secretary, which can be found on file.

We note that Sister Darby has requested a personal meeting with the Employee Relations Director of London Underground about this issue, and instruct the General Secretary to obtain a report on this meeting, following which we will consider options for representation in negotiations on this issue.

We further instruct the General Secretary to pursue the other parts of our previous decision of 24 January.

The TfL board will discuss the 'Operational Vision' tomorrow November 2nd 2011, which predicts trains without drivers and the closure of all ticket offices by 2016.

LUL's Managing Director Mike Brown's presentation to the Board is attached.

Brown says "Given the technology available now, it is very unlikely that, after the procurement of the trains for the Sub Surface Lines, LU will ever again buy a fleet of passenger trains with conventional drivers’ cabs."

The TfL board will discuss the 'Operational Vision' this week, which predicts trains without drivers and the closure of all ticket offices by 2016.

A document has been released detailing the agenda of the meeting. It says "Given the technology available now, it is very unlikely that, after the procurement of the trains for the Sub Surface Lines, LU will ever again buy a fleet of passenger trains with conventional drivers’ cabs."

The document also makes note of stations saying that ticket office need will decrease and staff will need to become more 'flexible.'

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution from our LU Fleet branch, and share the shock and alarm expressed by the branch that London Underground could even consider reducing the frequency of tripcock testing. The tripcock is an essential safety mechanism which stops a train in the event of it passing a signal at danger, therefore preventing crashes and protecting life.

General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser. We also note that our LU Fleet branch is dissatisfied with levels of representation and wishes the union to continue to pursue this issue.

We instruct the General Secretary to obtain from LU Fleet branch a report of its outstanding concerns following its next branch meeting on 21 September.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the report from our Regional Organiser. We note that the outcome of the disciplinary process was that our members were issued with 52-week warnings to run from the date of the alleged offence, and that as this was in 2008, the warnings have now expired.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the correspondence from London Underground.

It is disingenuous of LU to complain that this union has not used the ‘agreed machinery’ when during the period referred to there was no agreed machinery due to LUL’s withdrawal from it. Despite this, our reps have tried to maintain good industrial relations.

Furthermore, despite LUL’s claims, there are no agreed minutes available yet and our representatives have been requesting a director level meeting to discuss this matter.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution from our LU Engineering branch requesting an industrial action ballot on this issue and the supportive report from our Regional Organiser.

TUBE UNION RMT warned of more tube chaos for passengers as it emerged that as part of the TfL cuts programme the frequency of safety-critical inspections is being slashed from twice a week to once a week.

In a safety licensing concession requested by LU the twice weekly inspection of track and infrastructure in sidings and depots will be cutback to just once a week. These inspections are in the areas of highest traffic anywhere on the network with fleet constantly being shunted in and out.