TfL industrial relations falter
A prolonged period of disputes between unions and the organisation responsible for the capital’s transport network is in prospect.
TOWARDS the end of November, the RMT union called out staff across Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines as part of a dispute over drivers being rostered to operate Night Tube services. This is despite TfL having agreed with both ASLEF and the RMT unions that “All existing Train Operators will be given the choice whether or not to become Night Tube ‘Part Time Operators' and have priority to move to these roles over any external candidates.”
In addition, TfL had agreed that “No existing Train Operator will therefore need to work the Night Tube shifts unless they choose to do so”. In addition, TfL is reportedly counting Sundays as being a ‘rest day' when staff have been on shift and then clock off up until 07.30.
RECRUITMENT MORATORIUM
Night Tube services were withdrawn as the country went into lockdown due to the pandemic in March 2020. Successive bailouts of TfL by the Department for Transport (DfT) meant that a moratorium was imposed upon recruitment.
However, with many staff members succumbing to the disease or choosing to leave the Underground, some lines are running short of staff. Ashfield House, London Underground's training centre, is reportedly buzzing with a multitude of new train managers, duty managers, train operators, station staff and those in other management roles, currently undergoing training. However, even if these new staff members had completed their training, it is thought
that this would still be insufficient to meet current staffing demands, including that of the Night Tube.
Earlier in 2021 London Underground had made noises that the Night Tube wouldn't be introduced until 2022.
Since then, Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, has come under pressure to bring these plans forward. The partial return of Night Tube services at the end of November was announced in October. However, as TfL originally made an agreement with the unions back in July, negotiations were reopened with them. It appears that while ASLEF members chose not to force the issue, members of the RMT voted to stand their ground. The RMT
instructed its members not to book onto duties that start between 20.30 and 04.29 on Fridays and Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Services began to be impacted from the end of November and, as Rail Express went to press, no solution seemed to be in sight.
DARK CLOUDS GATHER
Some in London Underground are bracing themselves for the likelihood of further industrial action in 2022. As part of the bailout of TfL announced at the beginning of June, a full review of the current TfL pension scheme was imposed by the DfT (see July
2021 issue). At that time, we pondered
whether any tinkering with existing conditions was likely to create an emotive response, with staff defending the existing agreement. The danger being that those that choose to stand up for their contractual rights, will be framed as being militant or workshy to paying passengers, who might care little for the genuine reasons and the grievances of staff. This review process has now begun, with the Commissioner of TfL, Andy Byford, having written to Underground staff at the end of October. It is understood that staff who have been taken on recently and are currently undergoing training are on alternative contracts, with different pension provisions.
E