EVERY JOB MATTERS – DEFENDING JOBS ON LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)
RMT has been in ongoing discussions with London Underground over several months over their plans to slash jobs, reorganise station grades and close ticket offices. We have tried to engage with the company in a constructive manner, even offering our own counter proposals, but they have refused to step back from implementing their plans.
After eight months of discussions not one job has been restored and we still face a decimation of station jobs. At present 953 cuts are proposed with thousands of members facing the prospect of downgrading with a resulting loss of salary. Every ticket office would also close by the end of 2015.
We have urged LUL to reconsider their new staffing model which would require the displacement of up to 1200 skilled and trained staff. These staff who mainly works in Central London stations issuing tickets, servicing POMs and running control rooms, would be moved into roles involving them applying new operational skills in a totally different environment of lone working on local stations. At the same time they plan to displace hundreds of supervisors, who have operational skills, into Central London on new roles running control rooms. Furthermore they are seeking to displace every CSA who works on a local station, including many part time staff who are unlikely to be able to make long journeys to work.
Whilst LUL claim that a post will be offered to all staff with no loss of pay, this is only on basis that you pass competence assessments for the new roles and agree to the move. We have demanded an unconditional commitment from LUL that no member of staff will suffer a loss of pay because of reorganisation at the company’s behest. We don’t think you should have to suffer from the company’s disastrous decision to reorganise station jobs.
From our view of the job figures, it is clear to us that many locations will be left without sufficient staff to safely and effectively run stations. For example Ladbroke Grove Cover Group will have its staffing level halved. All local stations will be lone worked through both peaks and even the busiest gateway stations will see cuts, despite an LUL commitment they will get more staff. In terms of ticket offices, we have serious concerns over the company’s reliance on unproven, unreliable technology to replace them. Despite our protestations, LUL refuse even to discuss their contingency plans should any aspect of their plans do not unfold as intended. We believe this is foolhardy and irresponsible to members and the travelling public.
We have demanded meaningful talks with London Underground but unfortunately this is falling on deaf ears. They are now beginning to implement their proposals with the appointment of Area Managers and confirmation of voluntary redundancies. In addition Station Supervisors have been summoned to development centres for development training and assessment. We gave them a 48 hour deadline to give us the necessary assurances to withdraw these notices but this was totally ignored.
A mass meeting of members was organised last Friday to discuss our “Every Job Matters” Campaign. The clear view of those in attendance was that further action is the only solution to protect the interest of members and the travelling public. The General Grades Committee has considered the views of the members at the meeting as well a report from the negotiating team and has decided to call further industrial action the details of which are below:
- With effect from 00.01 hours Wednesday 3rd September 2014, until further notice, all station staff and station supervisors are instructed not to work any overtime
- With effect from 00.01 hours Wednesday 3rd September 2014, until further notice, all Station Supervisors members are instructed not to participate in development courses and assessments at the Development centres.
I urge our LU members to continue their superb support our campaign to reverse LUL’s disastrous plans. We are determined to continue to fight to stop job cuts, keep ticket offices open and push back austerity on the tube. We will shortly be consulting with our senior representatives on proposals for further strike action in the near future.