Update on ‘workplace isolation exemption scheme’
covid-19 charter

Dear member,

Senior RMT Safety reps and the Regional Organiser this afternoon attended an ad-hoc Safety Forum to discuss LU’s intention to implement the ‘workplace isolation exemption scheme’ that The Government are now keen to roll out to key industries; TfL being one of those organisations.

TfL are obviously keen to utilise this scheme given the staffing problems occurring in various Controls Rooms due to staff self-isolating.

So how would it work?

LU advise us this scheme will only be available to certain groups of workers: specialist engineers, control room staff and ERU. They do not intend to apply this to trains or station staff. So, if you are double vaccinated you will be eligible to join the scheme. Instead of isolating, you would take a PCR test followed by daily lateral flow tests. You would then be free to travel to work, using public transport if necessary.

Our concerns here are that these members of staff would be allowed to travel to work before obtaining the results of the PCR test. This would leave, for that period of time, only the less reliable lateral flow test as evidence of non-infection. Staff would be required to wear a face covering at all times when travelling to and from work on public transport. Your exemption from self-isolating would apply for the duration of your time at work and travelling to and from work.

Standard self-isolating rules would apply at all other times. Management stated that joining this scheme would be optional. Our concern here is that pressure could be applied for certain groups of workers to join the scheme. Management assured us that using those who had been double vaccinated for this scheme fully complies with GDPR legislation. We have asked them which sections of the GDPR they are referring to allow us to carry out our own checks.

A further concern is the scheme could be hijacked or abused by those not eligible and outside of the listed working groups coming into work when they should be isolating rather than posing a risk to our members. This process has only just been presented to us to we are still asking questions and analysing the risks.

Unfortunately, LU are intending to roll this scheme out immediately. We are monitoring this situation closely. 

In Solidarity,

RMT Tier 2 Health & Safety Council