Workers' Liberty

The ink is not dry on the stations agreement with management and they start their old tricks again.

The unions have stopped industrial action for a document from management which – although it is not nearly so bad as management’s earlier proposals – does dent the principle of 24/7 station supervision. It states that eight of the stations transferred from Silverlink will have supervisors on duty in traffic hours only. Tubeworker has already commented on the need to defend round-the-clock supervision (in the second half of this article), but we want to add some further points.

Management were supposed to produce the Business Needs Schematics for the ex-Silverlink stations months ago. Then weeks ago. Then last week. But still ... Nothing.

LUL is very proud of its new acquisitions from Silverlink. Shame it doesn't put the effort in.

Deutsche Bahn has bought Laing Rail, which owns a 50% share in London Overground, which will include the East London Line once it reopens.

Management continue to illustrate why they took on agency workers on the ex-Silverlink stations. Not only are they cheaper, but apparently management can get them to do stuff that they shouldn't - and which is, in some cases, dangerous.

Since the take over of the Silverlink station at Queens Park a new roster was imposed which could only be achieved by having more staff. Guess what?

West Brompton station inherited two platforms and a lift from Silverlink. Management said this would make precious little difference to the station, and would certainly not require any extra staff or an uprating of West Brompton, which is one of the few remaining SS3 stations.

Yesterday, the OPO equipment at South Kenton failed, and a CSA from Wembley Central was deployed to the platform to give drivers the right.

On 11th November, 80 or so ex-Silverlink staff put on their new LUL uniforms.

Management are piling attack upon attack on Underground staff: security guards, agency staff, mobile supervision, direct recruitment of drivers, ticket office cuts and closures ...

We all know that a station is either Section 12 or not. It can't be Section 12 in parts, not in other parts.

A mere four days into the Silverlink transfer, and it seems that things are going wrong already.

You know LUL's claim that security guards would keep the stations safe at night?

Agency staff are starting to appear in places other than the transferring Silverlink stations.

LUL have declared their intention to use them for special events - making us wonder what happened to the 'special events team' that was part of the much-lamented stations shorter working week deal.

Hammersmith group management seem to think they can change staff's working practices without any consultation.

Bakerloo line station staff had a treat on Monday - a trip to Wembley Stadium's sumptuous hospitality facilities. Why this luxury day out? So that management could schmooze them about their plans for the transferring Silverlink stations.

Last Friday's strike by Bakerloo line detrainment staff was once again solid. But again, fighting alone - and with managers and RCIs doing their duties - it sadly had little effect.

Detrainment staff remain resolute in their determination to stop management imposing lone working, but are asking: how best to carry on this campaign? Tubeworker suggests that it may be best to integrate it with the campaign over issues arising from the transfer of Silverlink stations to LUL.

'Ere, want one of those security guard jobs on the transferring Silverlink stations?

As part of the impending Silverlink transfer, LUL stations Highbury & Islington, Blackhorse Road and West Brompton are to take on responsibility for the Silverlink platforms. Obviously, then, additional responsibilities would entail extra work, extra insepctions, extra fault reporting - and, you'd think, extra staff, and perhaps a notch-up of the station's complexity rating (giving a pay rise to the Supervisors).

Management have revealed their plans for the transfer of staff when LUL takes over parts of the Bakerloo and District lines from Silverlink.

We already knew that management were looking for a way to avoid levelling up their pay and conditions and thus save themselves some dosh. Now we know their ruse for doing this - holding back the pay rise until the staff have passed medical examinations and operational training.

On 11th November, a bunch of Silverlink stations will transfer to 'London Rail', and their employment will transfer to LUL.

Several stations that appear on the Tube map but are currently run by Silverlink are to be transferred to LUL. Read the linked report for some comments from Ken Lvingstone that are staggeringly hypocritical in light of his plan to privatise the East London line.