An appalling incident at Kenton station this morning shows just what risks London Underground are taking with safety with their compulsion to drive down staff numbers.
Sadly, there was a 'person under a train'. But a diffcult situation became much worse than it needed to be. Firstly, because the train driver was unable to contact the controller for a considerable time. And secondly, because the only person working on the station was a member of agency staff in the ticket office. Both these people did a sterling job in the circumstances - but those circumstances should never have been able to arise in the first place.
Despite a promise that all stations should be supervised at all times, Wembley Central group routinely leaves its stations without a supervisor. This morning, the lone agency worker had to detrain passengers, having received no training in this procedure and very little training in anything other than ticket office duties. The driver had to help deal with the incident when he should have been receiving care. The incident was very traumatic for both of them. The station has poor facilities, a landline that does not work and a station mobile that has run out of credit.
It's a scandal, and the company should be held to account for it.
Comments
This need to be stopped at LU
This is the sad and scary future for LU if nothing is done about it!
It demonstrates why an all grade union is essential. How will a single grade drivers union be protecting it's drivers if they ever find themselves having to deal with an incident under similar circumstances?
Quite right.Interestingly,
Quite right.
Interestingly, the Morning Star on 24 February quoted ASLEF's district organiser Steve Grant as saying that ASLEF was "obviously concerned that, should incidents occur on single-driver-operated trains, there would not be the back up needed if station staff are cut to the minimum."
Although this probably does not signal a transformation of ASLEF away from being a single-grade craft union, it is welcome, as they finally admit that station staff help drivers at work. If this continues, we might see less of that nonsense from some ASLEF activists about station staff being irrevelant/inferior/scabs/always doing overtime etc, or about RMT using drivers as "cannon fodder for station staff" when it organises all grades to fight in all grades' interests.
Until then, we should keep making the case for all-grades trade unionism - otherwise, London Underground will pick us off one grade at a time.
Action
There are currently severe delays North of Queens Park, apparently due to a signal failure at Kenton. I wonder if it is also due to some drivers refusing to go North of QP due to concerns about the unrelaiblility of the radio system?
... or because they have no
... or because they have no confidence that the stations are properly staffed and that they will get assistance when required?