Tubeworker's blog

Victorian Values

'Special service' has become pretty much the normal service on the Victoria line of late. On some days, it has been as low as 14 trains.

Management usually blame it on 'operator unavailability' or 'train cancellations', which translates to 'we don't want to admit it, but we don't employ enough...

No to Lone Working!

The latest bulletin from senior management reaffirms that, under their plans to cut 600 positions from stations, lone working will increase. They say: "Stations that already operate most of the traffic day as lone working may move to full traffic day lone working. Stations with some lone working may...

"Inflation busting"?

It was confirmed today that our 2022 pay increase, commencing from June and back-paid to the start of the financial year, will be 8.4 percent.

Cue howls of outrage from the right-wing media, with headlines spluttering about the "inflation busting" pay rise that "Tube drivers" (never mind the other...

A Tale of Two Demos?

Tubeworker is pleased to see that the Greater London Authority has called a demonstration in support of Ukraine next weekend. Nice one.

But we were just wondering ... If the GLA can call demonstrations, then why has it not called one to demand proper funding for London's transport?! The Mayor and...

Willesden or Won’t?

Although Bakerloo line trains stop at Willesden Junction, it's not actually an LU station; it's operated by London Overground, and staffed by their staff.

Imagine the surprise, then, of LU staff from both Bakerloo North and the SRT who were told to work there to assist with platform duties such as...

After 1/3 March: name more dates, build the political campaign

RMT reps will meet on Friday 18 March to discuss the next steps in the fight for jobs, pensions, and conditions, following our excellent strikes on 1/3 March. Tubeworker supporters in the meeting will argue for the following:

Name more dates now

We have the wind in our sails following one of the...

Revive the fight for cleaners' conditions

RMT must urgently dedicate more resources to empowering ABM cleaner reps and activists to step up their fight for improved conditions.

Disgracefully, Sadiq Khan looks set to stonewall union demands to in-house the cleaning contract, and will re-tender the contract to ABM without even stipulating...

Who pays for our pay rise?

The latest communique from senior boss Nick Dent reaffirms the company's commitment to honour our pre-pandemic pay agreement, which will see our pay rise by 0.2% above RPI from April. But Dent makes fairly clear that the money to finance the pay settlement will have to be recouped through cuts and...

There's always money for Johnson's follies...

There's no money left to properly fund the Tube, we are told. TfL are ready to implement "managed decline."

At the same time, there is money for MPs to get a pay rise, for buying PPE from Tories' chums. There's money for ill-fated Boris Johnson projects such as a tunnel to Ireland. Billionaires...

Reflections after Strike Day 1

An RMT rep shares some reflections on today's strike...

Today's action was more effective than LU - and, if we're honest, probably some of us - were expecting. In the week leading up to the strike the messaging from the company became slightly more panicked, shifting from emphasising significant...

Never cross a picket line

These strikes will be the first many workers, especially on stations, have seen. Anyone who started since 2017 has never seen a strike on stations. Anyone who started since 2015 has never seen a combine-wide strike.

And, although strikes elsewhere in the economy have revived somewhat in early 2022...

After March strikes, prepare for further action

Over 10,000 Tube workers will strike on 1 and 3 March, in the biggest strike on London Underground since 2015. A strong strike may force LU to reconsider cuts. But in all likelihood, the strikes on 1 and 3 March will not be sufficient to win the dispute. We will need further action.

The pensions...

Vote Yes in South Harrow sidings ballot!

As Tubeworker has commented on management still insist watching a training video is enough to get Picc line drivers up to speed with the expansion and change to South Harrow sidings. Rightly drivers have stuck two fingers up to this. Now RMT has balloted, Tubeworker is arguing for a yes vote for...

Leaks and faults

Picc line drivers are used to ageing trains and infrastructure but more recently the state of Bollo House is becoming more noticeable. Leaks, mice, faulty window seals and poor vending machines are all becoming more of an issue. Management think because there are plans for a new building that they...

London Underground is lying to us

RMT reps met with LU via conciliation service Acas on 17 February, to discuss attacks on jobs, conditions, and pensions. The union quite rightly reiterated that we are not interested in negotiating the detail of cuts; we oppose them outright, and want the employer to back off altogether.

Following...

"Do Nothing"?

One of the recurrent themes of LU's communication with staff over RMT's current dispute to defend jobs, pensions, and conditions, has been a kind of pleading. Referencing TfL/LU's dire financial condition, our employer says, in effect, "Well, what do you want us do to?! We've got to cut something!"...

All out on 1 and 3 March!

RMT has called strikes on London Underground for 1 and 3 March. These strikes will be the first time RMT’s entire LU membership - which includes workers in all functions: drivers, station staff, fleet and engineering workers, signallers, service controllers, and others – has struck together since...

Wot No Proper Training?

South Harrow sidings have had an overhaul, going from six roads to twelve. So, drivers will be properly trained and familiarised on the new roads, right?

You'd think so, but management reckon that watch a video animation will suffice. We don't think so, and we are pretty confident that Piccadilly...

Step Up Night Tube Strikes

RMT drivers on the Central and Victoria lines are continuing Night Tube strikes every Friday and Saturday.

Strikers are braving cold weather to maintain picket lines at train depots, and big gaps in the service, especially on the Central line, show the strikes are having an impact.

Action is...

We Must Strike to Stop Station Job Cuts

London Underground (LU) has now given some more detail on which stations it plans to target to cut jobs. Bosses plan to reduce the "welcome function" (i.e. reducing the number of Customer Service Assistants [CSAs] in ticket halls) at the following locations:

• Euston
• Green Park
• King's Cross
•...

Yes to vaccines, no to a punitive attendance policy

Tubeworker is pro-vaccine and urges workmates to get their jabs. We're alarmed by the anti-vax misinformation that we've seen some workmates circulate on social media.

But we oppose LU’s decision to differentiate between jabbed and unjabbed staff under the Attendance At Work policy. Presumably LU...

Green Park/Euston: Enough is Enough!

RMT will soon be balloting station staff across Green Park and Euston, as members say "enough is enough!" to the overzealous and heavy-handed management culture across the area.

Issues include probationers being sacked on spurious grounds, with one being told they were too proactive, and...

Return of the Flash and Dash?

Remember the Flash and Dash? Yes, management's absurd plan that instead of physically checking that all passengers are off the train before driving it into a depot or sidings, it's fine for the driver to just flash the lights and make a PA. No need to worry about those pesky passengers who aren't...

Tube workers: Join the fight to kill the bills!

The justified media and public attention on the "partygate" scandals that may ultimately topple Boris Johnson carries a risk, that attention is pulled from the Tories' political project, expressed through the legislation it aims to pass.

Two bills currently making their way through Parliament, the...

Cleaners win back wages

At the start of the pandemic, RMT insisted that ABM pay full wages to cleaners sick or isolating due to Covid. ABM agreed - and didn't even have to pay for it, as TfL gave them the money.

And yet, in November and December, cleaners who had to stay off work found that their pay packets were light...

Next steps after RMT's ballot

Since RMT's industrial action ballot returned a 95% majority in favour of taking action, discussion has been ongoing amongst workers about the next steps. This has taken place formally, in union branch meetings and region-wide reps' meeting, but also informally, in workplaces across London...

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