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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2019 :: RMTnews
6
T
hree-day strike action by
over a thousand safety-
critical London Underground
fleet staff was suspended this
month after lethal cuts to train
preparation and inspection
frequencies were abandoned by
LUL. .
Members had also been
taking action short of strike in a
number of areas around risk
assessments, a ban on lone
working and a ban on working
without valid licences and fire
wardens being in place.
RMT has long been opposed
to wholesale cuts to train
preparation, inspection and
maintenance that would mean:
*24 hour safety inspections
now set to take part up to 84
days apart
*Testing on brakes, doors,
lighting and safety-critical
emergency equipment no longer
done on a daily basis with
reductions of up to 97 per cent
in the frequency of these tests.
*Cuts being proposed despite
the fact that trains on some
lines approaching 50 years old
require more testing, not less
*Cuts to the established, tried
and tested safety inspection
regime being made despite the
fact that London Underground
are making profits of £800
million
RMT general secretary Mick
Cash said that if RMT had not
taken action tube bosses would
have bulldozed through a
package of damaging and
dangerous cuts to tube
inspection and preparation
frequencies with disastrous
consequences.
“First of all I want to pay
tribute to London Underground
fleet members who have proved
once again that militant, united
and determined trade union
action can roll back the tide of
cuts.
“This is their victory but it
also a victory for the travelling
public, the RMT campaign on
tube safety and for basic
common sense.
“It is a massive achievement
for this union to overturn the
planned cuts to tube train
inspections and preparation but
the campaign doesn’t stop here,
not by a long chalk.
“We now expect London
Underground to reverse the
planned cuts to jobs under their
“transformation” programme
and give us an assurance that
there will be no further attacks
on our members, their working
conditions and the safety
culture on the tube network.
“Our action has been
suspended but RMT remains
vigilant and will have no
hesitation in taking whatever
steps are required to block cuts
and their consequences
wherever and whenever they
may emerge,” he said.
TRANSFORMATION
RMT is also preparing separate
ballot for industrial action on
London Underground in
disputes over job losses.
The latest dispute has arisen
after TfL/LUL launched a
process called 'Transformation'
which aims to cut costs and
make savings through job cuts.
LUL has recently announced
a further raft of job losses
affecting members in Track
Access Control, Power Control,
Service Control, LUCC, Skills
Development, Waste, Pumps,
Stations Buildings and Civils
TUBE SAFETY
VICTORY