Probation

Workers in their first six months of employment. How management treat them, and why they should have more rights.

Keep your distance

21 March 2020

While operational training is still going ahead, it’s unclear how the company plans to maintain social distancing on the front of a train cab. Instructors on a number of lines are already refusing to take anyone else in their cab at the current time. Tubeworker thinks they are right to refuse. The...

Equal treatment for probationers

31 January 2020

Every so often, we hear some utter horror stories about probationers on stations having their probation extended, or even terminated, for utterly minor “infractions”, that would hardly elicit a raised eyebrow, let alone a disciplinary sanction, were they to be done by established staff. Some of...

"We didn't know you were coming..."

16 February 2018

The words that many new part time and Night Tube starters were greeted with as they introduced themselves on the stations they had been assigned. After being assured by their trainers that they would go to the stations, meet the AM, speak to Cover Group Support and find out who they would be...

Get Sick, Get Sacked?

21 March 2016

Two recent cases of what might well amount to disability discrimination have shed further light on how LU treats its staff. Two workers "failed" their probations, both due to attendance issues related to serious physical conditions. (Read more here.) Behind empty phrases about its "duty of care" and...

Fixed-term contract CSAs: fight for your future!

18 May 2015

All new CSAs employed since the middle of last year have been taken on on fixed-term contracts - most for 12 months, some for 16, but some for less (nine or six). These fixed-term posts were created unilaterally by LU without agreement from any union. They're a big setback; directly-employed work...

Stick to Six!

15 August 2014

Across the combine, stations-side management structures seem to be backed up when it comes to signing new starters off probation. Some are blaming ongoing "Fit for the Future" processes for creating backlogs of work. It may well be the case that DSMs and GSMs have had increased workloads as a result...

'Cut Loose'

26 November 2012

An LU document has revealed another sneaky way to remove staff. It also shows what we always suspected: they plan to use the 'Competence Management System' to spy on and discipline us, even tho they say it's for improving performance. The document says: “Probation is our opportunity to ensure staff...

Take Action For Eva!

14 March 2008

LUL has upheld the outrageous sacking of Eva Bayford on appeal. Eva's workmates are now gearing up for indutrial action to demand her reinstatement - and the rest of us should do all we can to help. There's a long-standing labour movement maxim that 'an injury to one is an injury to all'. Individual...

Defend Eva Bayford & Tomi David

3 February 2008

Tower Hill Group management has sacked two young probationers Tomi David and Eva Bayford. Their RMT workmates on the group and the rest of the District Line are preparing for action to win their jobs back and defend probationers' rights. Tomi David has been sacked for lateness. On one occasion, she...

Your Six Months Are Up

22 March 2007

On certain groups, probationers are having their probation period extended for up to a month or even more due to incompetent managers failing to sign them off at the end of their six months. It's bad enough that new starters have to endure their first six months with very few rights. Probationers...

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