We’re hearing word from various TOCs that the full implications of their endorsing the “Railway Welfare Facilities Charter” are only now being recognised by the bosses... and they don’t like them.
It was prescient, then, that ASLEF already laid down a strategy back in April to tackle the inevitable backsliding from the companies. A union circular at that time called for TOCs to supply Company Councils with diagrams for the December 2026 timetable change which included provision for allocated toilet breaks away from trains. Failure to do so would spark H&S inspections of every location, numbering thousands, wherever a driver can access suitable toilet facilities. And at the 2026 AAD held shortly after, GS Dave Calfe said that ASLEF has no intention of backing down on this provision, even if that means balloting members for action short of strike consisting of all drivers taking ten minute toilet breaks at the best available location before the four hour mark in any shift.
That is all good. But it's ironic that on LUL, ASLEF is championing a deal that allows the lengthening of time between toilet breaks compared to the currently existing parameters. No doubt they would argue that this was a worthwhile trade-off for the introduction of a paid meal relief and an extra rest day, but this issue is one about morality and dignity for workers and is the national union's current flagship campaign — not something to be traded away in return for something the rest of the industry already gets. It's also true that trip lengths are shorter on a metro railway compared to national intercity travel, but the spectacle of our union agreeing to extend shift lengths and maximum driving time is still an ugly one.
We should keep what we have and fight for more, not sell off existing rights and protections for other benefits.
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