BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, HAMMERSMITH SERVICE CONTROL CENTRE - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/391/20, 1st October 2020), your Lead Officer has submitted a report along with a comprehensive document from your senior Service Control Reps regarding the above matter. Our Service Control members at Hammersmith Service Control Centre worked extremely hard during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep the tube service running and have done so in unacceptable circumstances.

Your National Executive Committee have considered the matter and thank the Lead Officer and Service Control Representatives for their efforts to seek a solution to the numerous problems faced by our Service Control members. Members have continued to contend with a working environment in a new building that is not fit for its purpose, short staffing, and a determination from London Underground to avoid engaging constructively with the union on these matters as well as LUL reneging on past agreements to address these issues.

Alongside the existing unresolved issues of zero-hour contracts, the SLC2 roster and the failure of the company to recognise your Representatives in Hammersmith Service Control Centre, further issues have become apparent.

The agreements made through ACAS in 2008 and 2012 concerning the deployment of Service Control staff are not being abided by and our members at Hammersmith Service Control Centre have an unacceptable workload.

I have written to London Underground and informed them that these two additional issues are matters that we are also in dispute with them over and seeking a meeting between the company and your Lead Officer to seek a resolution. LUL have been notified that we will remain in dispute with them until all the matters that have been outlined to them previously and their failure to abide by the agreements covering deployment, and the unacceptable workload, are resolved to members' satisfaction.

I will keep Branches advised of all further developments in this dispute as it progresses.

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash
General Secretary