Category: LUL

RMT demands moratorium on station job cuts as union reveals that Leytonstone will lose half its rush hour staff in February

 

TUBE UNION RMT today demanded that London Underground halt its station job cuts programme as the union revealed that Leytonstone station, scene of Saturdays horrific knife attack, will lose half its rush hour staff from February under proposed new rosters. The Leytonstone cuts are part of an overall package from early next year which would strip 838 front-line, uniformed station staff out of the tube system.

 

Leytonstone currently has four station staff on duty during rush hour and London Underground plan to cut that to just two as part of their drive to reduce staff numbers.

 

Even worse, one of those two staff will be allocated to platform despatch duties meaning that only one person will be on station duty during the time of peak demand as opposed to three currently.

 

RMT has also challenged TFL claims that all staff have received updated briefings in light of the current security situation with the union saying that the briefings are “at best cursory and at worse non-existent.”

 

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

 

“RMT is demanding that London Underground immediately halt the station staff job cuts programme and send out a clear signal that they are genuinely facing up to the current security threat that faces passengers and staff alike.

 

“Plans to halve the staff numbers at Leytonstone in February will shock passengers as they face up to the appalling events of the weekend. Those cuts are replicated across the tube network.

 

“RMT also challenges the claims that all staff have received updated and detailed security briefings as that is simply not matched up with the experience of our members.

 

“The union expects the moratorium on station staffing cuts to be implemented immediately and we will not be fobbed off with a whole load of meaningless rhetoric and political posturing at a time when we all need to be working together to address the current security alert across the transport network.”

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND NIGHT TUBE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/0001)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/270/15, 5^th November 2015), the summary of the recent offer which was received from London Underground and communicated to all members last week, is also below for your information and attention.

 

Pay

 

A four year above inflation deal from 1^st April 2015 to 31^st March 2019

 

• Year 1 – An average 2%, made up of 1% plus a flat rate £500 consolidated increase on basic salaries recognising the introduction of Night Tube
• Year 2 – RPI or 1% whichever is greater
• Year 3 – RPI or 1% whichever is greater
• Year 4 – RPI + 0.25%

 

Fit for the Future Stations

 

Building on commitments made last year, London Underground will guarantee:

 

• Comparable number of weekends off as today
• 28 days’ notice of rest days and duties on cover weeks – these rest days are guaranteed
• Staff will work within their own Cover Group – occasionally working at adjacent Cover Groups
• Higher Duty Pay from day one where someone steps up to fill another role for an entire shift
• A review within 12 months to ensure resources keep up with rising customer demand
• Negotiations on Stations Framework including new transfer and promotion process
• Within Location Matters, part time staff will maintain their existing shift patterns and hours

 

Plus, a £500 non-consolidated payment to all station staff once the new operating model is introduced.

 

Night Tube

 

We will minimise the impact of Night Tube on our people, e.g.

 

• Recruiting more staff to take on Night Tube duties – c.500 hired to date
• No existing CSA will need to work Night Tube shifts
• Providing choice on roster patterns and options for further banked rest days, Track & Signals and Service Control
• No existing Train Operator will need to work Night Tube shifts, unless they choose to do so

 

Plus, a £500 non-consolidated launch payment to all staff on Night Tube lines and an equivalent launch payment for staff when Night Tube is introduced on other lines in the future.

 

Long term commitments

 

We will work with the Trade Unions over the next 12 months to jointly deliver, where safe and mutually beneficial:

 

More choice for staff to enhance work/life balance including:

 

• A compressed working week (e.g. a four day, 36 hour week)
• A range of part time contracts where these do not already exist
• Protecting quality time off, e.g. Weekends
• More opportunities for progression and development

 

A Reps meeting took place on Tuesday 1^st December to discuss this offer and this matter has now been considered by the General Grades Committee, which has noted that the overwhelming mood from the meeting was to reject the latest pay offer from London Underground. The GGC has taken the decision for the Lead Officer to seek a further meeting with LUL and report back to the GGC on Thursday 10^th December 2015.

 

I will of course keep you advised of all further developments.

RMT EXECUTIVE TO CONSIDER NEXT STEPS OVER PAY AND NIGHT TUBE FOLLOWING MEETING OF REPS

 

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

 

“Today was the first opportunity for RMT reps to come together to consider the revised offer on Night Tube and pay and conditions received from London Underground last week.

 

“The feedback from the meeting is that the offer has not matched up to the expectations of our members across the combine and falls short in a number of key areas. That feedback will now be considered by the unions executive committee who will make decisions on the next steps that RMT will  follow over the Night Tube and pay and conditions issues.

 

“External attempts to apply pressure on RMT’s internal democracy and processes will have no impact on our procedures whatsoever.”