Every Job Matters - Defending London Underground Jobs

We note the legal advice, that LUL's attempts to solicit applications for Voluntary Severance during the period of consultation on 'Fit For the Future - Stations' is potentially unlawful. A consultation is not genuine if the employer is already implementing the policy that it is supposed to be consulting on! We instruct the General Secretary to write to LUL immediately, insisting that it withdraw all documentation inviting staff to apply for Voluntary Severance until after the consultation is complete.

RMT Regional Organiser John Leach has written to London Underground Human Resources Boss Gerry Duffy in response to a trains operations staff manager asking subordinate managers whether they would be willing to work as 'Incident Station Supervisors' with just a 4 day training course. In Leach's letter to Duffy he explains that he is "extremely concerned with the Health & Safety implications" of this proposal as there is a "rigorous training programme for Station Supervisors."

The request for volunteers asked:

The RMT have received a document which shows that London Underground bosses plan for all station staff to work across all stations in their area while for 1/3 or 1/4 weeks we will all work as “cover”. Cover will be arranged over several groups meaning some staff could work in a number of stations with longer travelling time to and from work.

The briefing also gives some details about assessments for CSM and CSS roles. It looks as though the assessments will rely on subjective assessments of the suitability of each member.

Transport for London (TfL) says that one reason that it needs to remove nearly 1,000 London Underground station staff is that it has to save money. Perhaps there are other sources of savings ...

TfL pays 328 people more than £100,000 in 2012/13, 33 of them more than £200,000.

High earners include:
Peter Hendy, Commissioner, £652,452
Andrew Wolstenholme, Chief Executive, Crossrail, £567,828
Andy Mitchell, Programme Director, Crossrail, £552,405
Mike Brown, Managing Director, Rail and Underground, £475,651

Comrade,

Alongside every grade on the tube LU train drivers will shortly be receiving ballot papers for strike action and action short in defence of our jobs on the tube.

LU’s plans to slash staffing on stations will effect every grade in every function and will impact directly on drivers ability to do our job safely and professionally.

KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED

We will be better prepared for any dispute if the workforce is already well-informed about the issue(s).

• Keep noticecases up-to-date.
• Give leaflets and newsletters to your workmates. Download material from www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/downloads
• Speak to people at work.
• Make sure that they feel comfortable to ask questions and give their views.
• Take concerns seriously; provide answers, even if means going away and finding out.
• If you can, produce a leaflet or newsletter for staff in your workplace.

Dear Gerry

Fit for Future – Stations – Consultation

I am in receipt of your letter of 2nd December 2013 and must state at the outset I am amazed and disappointed at the assertions it contains. To suggest that this union is unwilling to discuss issues such as the loss of jobs and closure of all booking offices is farcical and insulting.

My Regional Organiser, John Leach, met with you yesterday and asked a number of questions, answers to which we believe we are legally entitled in order to cost the proposals. For ease of reference these were as follows:-

Download the latest issue of RMT up front the newsletter for drivers on London Underground. This issue highlights LU's threats to our job, our culture of safety and our ability to provide a public service for London.

Main stories follow:

London’s underground is under attack Drivers: vote YES to defend the job!

Most Londoners are shocked at the severity of LUL's proposed cuts. So much for Boris’ Johnson’s promises (when seeking election) to keep ticket offices open!