Tube safety victory

FOLLOWING a vigorous campaign by RMT, the government has dropped plans to scrap sub-surface station fire-safety regulations brought in as a direct result of the 1987 Kings Cross Tube blaze that claimed 31 lives. The planned changes would affect fire precaution laws that cover sub- surface stations such as those on the London Underground and other metro systems and introduce minimum fire standards and minimum staffing levels. The government’s Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2004, as originally drafted, would have repealed the 1971 Fire Precautions Act, and with it the 1989 Fire Precautions (Sub-Surface Railway Stations) Regulations, which were brought in on the recommen- dation of the Fennell Report into the Kings Cross fire. This threatened staffing levels and safety standards. Following an intervention by RMT 12 NEVER AGAIN RMT halts plans to repeal fire-safety regulations introduced following the horrific 1987 Kings Cross fire RMT news – Tube safety victory parliamentary convenor John McDonnell MP, the Commons Regulatory Reform Committee recommended that the regulations not be scrapped. John tabled Early Day Motion 1721 which called on the government to keep the regulations in place. Shortly afterwards RMT was informed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that the regulations would not be repealed. RMT and its parliamentary group strongly argued that scrapping minimum standards, allowing management to conduct their own risk assessments and effectively leaving fire-precautions to their discretion would be a recipe for cost-driven corner-cutting. This would have led to a weakening of fire precautions, fewer station staff and more risk to members and the public. Safety first “Tube and rail workers and passengers alike will be enormously relieved that the government has accepted the need to keep these regulations in place,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. “This is excellent news, especially as we approach the 17th anniversary of the Kings Cross fire, in which 31 people lost their lives. Keeping effective fire- safety rules in place is the most fitting tribute to those who died. “The government says it will draft new guidance on fire precautions in sub-surface stations, and RMT will continue forcefully to make the case for those precautions to be statutory. “RMT members will be indebted to John McDonnell, the convenor of the RMT parliamentary group, who brought our concerns to the Regulatory Reform Committee’s attention, and to all those MPs who signed Early Day Motion 1721, urging the government to change course,” Bob said. Victory for all John McDonnell MP described the decision as a victory for everyone who uses or works on the underground and sub-surface railways. “The RMT Parliamentary Group has been at the forefront of this campaign to secure the continuation of adequate fire safety measures. “We’re glad that common sense has prevailed and we would expect that any future review will maintain the levels of staffing and safety necessary to avoid ever again a tragedy like Kings Cross,” he said. The Fire Brigades Union, which was also involved in the campaign, welcomed the moves as “vital” for public safety. FBU national officer John McGee said that firefighters across Britain, especially London, will breathe a sigh of relief at the decision. He pointed out that only the trade unions could have blocked government plans “because most people are unaware of the details of such regulations and their importance”. RMT London regional organiser Bobby Law said that the reality was that since the introduction of PPP and the privatisation of London Underground infrastructure cost has been a growing consideration when it came to running the service. “These regulations guaranteed minimum standards and staffing levels. “The implications of their removal are clear – massive job losses and the deterioration of safety on the underground,” he said. RMT exists to make sure that health and safety is not undermined and that employers do not attempt to reduce costs through job cuts. 13 BUSY: Kings Cross today carries even more passengers than in 1987. Picture credit © Duncan Phillips reportdigital.co.uk RMT news – Tube safety victory