11th March 2025

To All LUL Train Operators

Dear RMT Member

4-DAY WORKING WEEK, TRAIN OPERATORS - LONDON UNDERGROUND

London Underground has presented your Union with a road map to a 4-day week, and on Friday, your local reps met to discuss the proposal. Your reps have already identified many problems with the proposal and I want to assure you that your Union is engaging in a full and detailed consultation with members at this time. This matter will be discussed further at a meeting of the RMT Trains Grades Committee on Friday 14th March - see invite link below.  

RMT is a signatory to all the agreements that management wish to change under this plan and we will not accept any implementation of new working arrangements that we do not agree with. RMT has campaigned for a 4-day 32hr working week ever since the current 35hr week was introduced. We continue to do so and our current pay claim for April 2025 again raises this demand and the need for immediate movement towards this in the form of a contractual cut in the working week.

The offer on the table from LUL does not do this. Instead, the current 35hr week is re-organised with longer shifts. More handle time and the squeezing of walking time and other non-driving time is proposed in order to shoehorn the same amount of driving into 4 days. RMT has serious concerns about the safety of extending the working day. Fatigue needs reducing, not increasing, on those days when you are at work.

Your Union is also concerned that the offer from LUL is not complete. There are no guaranteed timescales. LUL intends to introduce change over three phases. In phase 1 you deliver new technology and the use of booking on apps but a 4-day week does not come until phase 3. LUL says the move to phase 3 is dependent on you agreeing the necessary flexibility demands through new agreements to replace the existing ones, including your framework and PTOA. None of this can be clarified or changed as management has made it clear that the offer must be accepted in whole, up front.

Future recruitment and your ability to transfer will also be impacted by managements' proposals. The life of a pool driver will be made far more difficult by line-based arrangements and changes to duties and even depots at just 24hrs notice. Drivers face being stuck on a line for at least 5 years under the plans.

Your reps will continue to consult you in the depots. RMT continues to fight for a 4-day week but it is clear that managements' take it or leave it proposal is seeking to reintroduce many elements of the hated Trains Modernisation program under the cover of a possible 4-day week.

Please speak with your local Rep for the latest updates on this matter.

Topic: Ad Hoc Train Grades

Time: Mar 14, 2025 02:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9050245245?pwd=VmVGVFB0eUwrbVhOUmRka2poRFByZz09&omn=88631990169  

You will need your membership number to hand to access this meeting. Your local rep can find this for you if necesary.