Barking sidings are so dark as to be unsafe. The measure for lighting levels is such that over 30 is OK, between 20 and 30 requires a risk assessment, less than 20 and the location should close until the problem is rectified. The level at Barking sidings? 4.
There was little action from ASLEF, and unfortunately, under the shadow of the rule book fiasco, RMT head office equivocated about advising members to refuse to work on safety grounds. When they did get the support from union reps that they needed, some drivers did refuse to work, and management immediately agreed to an emergency meeting. With better leadership, more drivers would have refused and management might have been forced to act more decisively.
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