MORE STAFF FOR BANK GROUP? YOUR HELP REQUIRED!

RMT put the case for more staff on the group, in particular:

• more weekend staff at Bank
• an additional weekday middle-turn CSA at St. Paul’s
• adjusting staffing at Chancery Lane during the evening peak

If there are other specific times and locations which you would like to be considered, please let me know.

Management agreed to put together a ‘business case’ for these. But we need evidence!
So please ensure that you report examples of the need for extra staffing at these times, both through the formal channels (EIRFs, Log Book, MIP/VIP forms etc) and directly to me – by email (internal, or j.booth@rmt.org.uk), phone (07957-217639) or in person.
This could include: any instance of a part of the station being left unstaffed eg. gateline, SATS; assisting disabled passengers or school parties; queues at ticket offices or machines; lift assistance; impact of service disruption; assaults or abuse; incidents; or just a difficult or heavy workload.

GROUP FACILITIES

Management gave updates as follows:

• Bank: control room work to start in the next few months
• Chancery Lane: ticket hall ceiling and lighting work to start in the next two weeks; work being done on water ingress and drainage; management to chase up improvements to the mess room
• Holborn: work on escalators and congestion relief to start in 2015

NEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Northern Line track-to-train images are now held on site, so there will be a new requirement for the night-turn Supervisor at Bank to carry out a check.

I reported staff’s concerns that the new wording to be used for one-unders – ‘person on the track’ – is encouraging passengers to underestimate the seriousness of the incident and therefore be more angry/frustrated.

EQUALITIES

I raised the issue of recent sexual assault and racist abuse against staff on the group. At the next Level 1 meeting later this month, there will be a discussion on action to be taken about this, perhaps including publicity campaigns and advice to staff on what to do if this happens to you, including the support that the union can offer.
If you have any ideas about what you would like the union or the company to do, please let me know.

AIR CONDITIONING, BANK MESS ROOM

This has (finally) been resolved by the fitting of a new unit. The problem was caused by the previous new unit being too small. I obtained an assurance that the cost of this error will not cause any knock-on disadvantage to staff.

COMPUTER AT HOLBORN

The additional computer has still not be installed, but a suitable location will be agreed soon. Management have assured us that you should all be allowed access to the computers in the Supervisors’ office and the Control Room during your break or before/after work.
If you experience any problems getting this access, please let me know.

CLEANERS: INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS PROBLEMS

Bank station cleaners are having problems with their manager, and are pursuing a collective grievance against him. Station staff on the group value the work of our cleaning workmates and do not want to see them mistreated or demoralised.

Management agreed to contact the LUL manager responsible for cleaning contracts, to urge Initial to resolve this issue.

CIRCULATION OF STAFF DETAILS

I raised a concern that in some cases, information about staff was being circulated more widely among managers and supervisors than was necessary. Management did not agree, so this issue has been referred to the Stations and Revenue Council to discuss.

UNION FACILITIES

New noticecases have been ordered for Bank, St. Paul’s and Chancery Lane, and we will soon be agreeing an exact location for each.

RMT will have a filing cabinet at Bank/Monument, so that members’ information can be stored confidentially.

CONSULTATION ABOUT TRIALS

It was agreed that in future, when there is to be a trial of any new way of working, management will consult the group’s union reps (both health & safety and industrial relations) before the trial starts.

Yours in solidarity

Janine Booth
RMT representative
Bank stations group, London Underground