Workers' Liberty

Female staff at Euston have been kicked out of their female toilets to make way for the men while the male toilets are refurbished.

Management have decided that all Station Supervisors have to attend a 'inclusion, equality and diversity' course.

Management have circulated a document to the disabled staff network group that should ring alarm bells for everyone - able-bodied and disabled alike. Under the progressive and welcome aim of employing more disabled staff in frontline jobs, they propose to remove some of the licensing requirements for station grades.

We have reported previously about contractors' failure to empty sanitary bins often enough.

Now it turns out that Metronet has cut the frequency with which it empties the sanitary bins on stations from two weeks (which was already too long a wait) to four weeks.

Under TfL's current policy, when a worker reaches retirement age but wishes to carry on working, they must prove they ares still competent enough to do the job, and successful workers are allowed to stay on in part time employment.

It seems that LUL has vetoed an advert for GT magazine on the grounds that one of the models is too scantily-clad. The bloke concerned is helping the magazine to celebrate 40 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

A night station supervisor at Dagenham East station was disgusted to find the sanitary bin in the toilets overflowing and its contents spilling accross the floor. He reported the fault, but was told it couldn't be dealt with until late the following morning.

Anyone wondering what the purpose is of LUL's Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Network can find an answer in the latest On The Move - which appears to suggest that it's to help a small number of black people get into senior management jobs!

Women in Britain have had the right to free, legal and safe abortion since 1967. This right is under attack and should be defended by workers and the trade union movement.

When abortion became legal, women were freed from the danger of backstreet abortions, which had been one of the biggest causes of female death until that time. It was also a big step forward for women's liberation. It was about women being able to assert control over their bodies and their lives. The women's liberation movement, that was emerging at the same time as the legislation, fought for women to have genuine choice over how they lived their lives. Along with the contraceptive pill, which became accessible around the same time, abortion rights gave women control over whether and when to give birth. It was part of liberating women from the roles that had imprisoned them for centuries, when women's role in childbirth had restricted them to childrearing and the home.

Some staff object to having management propaganda stuffed through their letter box at home.

Tubeworker is not one of these ingrates. We love getting On The Move through our collective doors. It provides us with a right laugh, plenty of material, and a reserve supply should the Andrex run out (tip: remove staples first).

Say you've been up all night caring for two sick kids, have had no sleep yourself and ring up to say you are unable to come to work the following day. Managers have the discretion to allow you paid special leave, but most of them would make you lose a day's pay!

London Bridge station has discovered the depths to which the cleaning contracts allow us to sink. Enquiring as to why the sanitary products disposal unit had not been empty for a while, they were told that, according to the contract, it only has to emptied when it is full.

Two customers try to travel without a ticket. When the (black) SA challenges them, the customers let loose a stream of racist abuse. The Station Supervisor decides to call the police. Then, like a knight in shining armour, a Line General Manager passes through, and ... well, what do you reckon he does?

The Mayor has withdrawn that creepy leaflet aimed at women passengers, after numerous people pointed out that it was ... er ... sexist.

In case you are lucky enough not to have seen this leaflet, it is illustrated by pictures of lipstick and stiletto heels, and gives "advice" that would be patronising to a two-year-old going to a princess fancy dress party.