Central line | Workers' Liberty

Justice for sacked drivers!

Submitted by Tubeworker on Fri, 20/04/2018 - 14:04

Paul Bailey

Paul Bailey, a Leytonstone driver, has been sacked following a drug and alcohol test which he passed.

Testing for cannabis is notoriously difficult. Paul's original test result was hidden from him, but he was stood down because of it. A follow up private test showed 19ng of a cannabinoid substance, but the industry standard for a so called 'failed test' is 50ng. The positive result came because this driver has eaten hemp supplements - allowed by LU - as part of a fitness regime.

Noise Problems

Submitted by Tubeworker on Sat, 10/02/2018 - 13:25

Following complaints from residents living near stations and above tunnel sections, LU has visited new noise-suppressing fastenings to sections of Central Line tracks.

Fair enough. Only problem is, this has the effect of sending the noise and vibrations back through the train. It's incredibly loud for drivers and, in some places, even worse for punters in the carriage. Some drivers are buying ear defenders.

Return of the Rainbow?

Submitted by Tubeworker on Fri, 03/11/2017 - 10:24

Remember Rainbow? Managers at their keyboards spotting imaginary 'patterns' in your sickness absence so they can issue warnings to staff who haven't actually triggered the Attendance procedure. Well, it appears to have reappeared.

The Rainbow has been spotted recently over some Piccadilly line traincrew depots, Central line stations and in service control. If you spot it in your area, get on to your union rep straightaway.

At the end of this Rainbow is a crock ... but not of gold.

Danny Davis: back on the front in 2018

Submitted by Tubeworker on Fri, 27/10/2017 - 00:47

The Director’s Review into the sacking of Danny Davis has concluded that he will be reinstated with a guaranteed job as a train driver from 12 months after the date he was sacked. He is already about six months into that period, having been recently been reinstated as a CSA.

Central Line drivers deliver huge majority for strikes: stand firm to get Danny back on the front!

Submitted by Tubeworker on Mon, 25/09/2017 - 13:04

RMT's Central Line drivers' ballot, which saw drivers at all depots at both ends of the line balloted for industrial action to win the reinstatement of sacked colleague Danny Davis, returned an absolutely thumping majority.

Easily beating the Tories' "double threshold" (a minimum 50% turnout, and a minimum 40% of all those balloted voting yes to action), the final score was 99% in favour of action on a 77% turnout.

Derailed

Submitted by Tubeworker on Sat, 11/03/2017 - 12:49

Yesterday morning saw the Central line service up the wall after an engineering train derailed as it crossed the points on the way into a siding at White City around the time of start of traffic.

Over-stretched and short-handed station staff - still not feeling the full benefit of their recent victory over staff cuts - had to deal with grumpy passengers for most of the day, while drivers had to deal with late running and changes to schedules.

Deal With It?

Submitted by Tubeworker on Thu, 02/03/2017 - 14:38

Word reaches Tubeworker HQ of an incident at Snaresbrook recently.

A driver pulling in on the eastbound noticed a gentleman on a walking stick fall over. With no station staff available to assist, the driver was told by the controller that the affected individual would have to deal with things on his own!

This is the same station where a stabbing occurred recently, and it was during the evening peak. Maybe if someone has a heart attack, LU bosses will say they should deal with it on their own too.

Watergate!

Submitted by Tubeworker on Mon, 20/02/2017 - 23:05

Bosses at stations across the combine are threatening to take away water coolers from staff mess rooms, apparently due to the provider's contract expiring.

Staff have been told to drink from the regular tap. Pictures obtained by Tubeworker show that these taps are caked in scum and limescale, and certainly not suitable to drink from (see below; or, if you're reading this on Facebook, click the link to view the picture on our blog). Access to proper drinking water is a basic requirement for dignity and health and safety at work.

Central Line drivers: all out for 21-22 February!

Submitted by Tubeworker on Fri, 17/02/2017 - 00:42

The dispute against forced displacements of drivers from depots at the east end of the Central Line is continuing. Following a totally solid strike on 25-26 January, RMT has called further action for 21-22 February.

Tubeworker is pleased to see that, following a ballot of their own over the same issue, Aslef drivers will be joining them.

Central Line drivers to strike against displacements

Submitted by Tubeworker on Wed, 18/01/2017 - 22:19

After a resounding vote in favour of action, RMT drivers at Hainault, Leytonstone, and Loughton Traincrew Depots will strike from 21:00 on Wednesday 25 January to 20:59 on Thursday 26.

They're striking against displacements; Tubeworker previously covered the dispute here (if you're reading this article on a platform that doesn't include hyperlinks, the URL is: http://www.workersliberty.org/node/27399).

We need strong pickets at all depots, and we hope Aslef members will respect them.