Dear Colleagues,

DISMISSAL, HARVINDER BILLING, CSA2, HEATHROW - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)

The following resolution has recently been received from Piccadilly & District West Branch:-

“This Branch calls on the NEC to instruct the General Secretary to inform London Underground that a ballot for strike action will be called on the Heathrow Cover Group of stations and additionally action short of strike; over the summary dismissal of Brother Harvinder Billing.

Harvinder is accused by the company on two charges:

1.    Of failing to follow procedure

2.    Failing to account

These relate to two instances where Brother Harvinder encountered note vault discrepancies while servicing the ticket machines at Heathrow. We do not dispute that Harvinder did not follow the correct procedure, the reason he didn't is because he was never trained in this procedure.

The correct procedure to follow when faced with a note vault discrepancy is not included in the TSID training course for a new CSA2, Harvinder is a CSA2, nor is this procedure included in the ticket office rule books or written anywhere on the intranet.

We have also presented the company with multiple evidence that note vault discrepancy is a regular occurrence in the POM room and that therefore the ticket machines and associated software are simply too unreliable to use as a basis for dismissing a member of staff.

Brother Harvinder is a victim of training cuts and unreliable machinery and should never have been dismissed, this branch again calls on the General Secretary to instigate the matrix of members at Heathrow in preparation for the ballot”.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee which has taken the decision to arrange an urgent reps meeting of all Piccadilly Line IR Reps with the Lead Officer, Senior Assistant General Secretary and NEC in attendance. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash
General Secretary