It seems that Central Line senior managers are still away
on their hols as so far there’s been no further attempt to avert another strike, hopefully between
unpacking their bags and shaking the sand out of their shoes they'll make time to talk to ASLEF over the next three weeks. In the meantime there's trouble a-brewing over on the Northern Line where a TOp with 29 years on the job has been sacked for
failing a breathalyser test. Now that in
itself wouldn’t be a big issue, we’ve lost a few TOps on the Central for
breaches of LUL’s drugs & alcohol policy and while their departure was sad we
all accepted that their dismissal was inevitable but in Alex McGuigan’s case
there’s a twist.
Like a growing number of people in the UK he suffers from
type 2 diabetes which the Tube’s own Occupational Health department admit can
lead to a false reading on a breathalyser, making it appear that someone had
alcohol in their system when they’d not been drinking. LUL could have tested his urine sample which
is used to look for substances other than alcohol but instead
they’ve sacked him on the basis of the flawed breathalyser evidence.
Obviously RMT are fighting his corner but if management follow
their usual policy of pig-headed inflexibility then we could see a strike on the Northern Line
sometime before the end of the year. We
could see one over on the Piccadilly Line a lot sooner; RMT are holding a strike ballot over “cross line working” although I have no idea exactly
what that means or whether ASLEF are also in dispute. It certainly seems that at this moment a lot of
TOps on a lot of lines are not happy bunnies.
For once management aren't taking the piss.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be an implication that management shouldn't take holidays, which I think is a little unfair. While I appreciate it's unfortunate timing I'm not sure what they are meant to have done about this
ReplyDeleteThere was certainly no implication that management shouldn't go on holiday on my part, perhaps what is needed is for management to ensure that there is someone still working who can cover for them while they are away, at the moment it seems that everyone has gone away at the same time. Incidentally one of the issues currently disputed is TOps being refused days off even when we've asked for them with the agreed 28 days notice (that agreement covers the whole of the Tube not just the Central Line).
DeleteLOL! Managers cant even manage their own coverage! Seriously. They allow so many driver NCAs, did you really expect them NOT to have manager NCAs??
DeleteCROSS LINE WORKING – TRAIN OPERATORS – PICCADILLY LINE, LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/1)
ReplyDeleteA report has been received from the Lead Officer concerning the Company’s plans to run a service at Ealing Broadway over the Christmas period using Piccadilly Line staff during a period of engineering work. This does not constitute a service emergency and therefore amounts to cross line working which is in breach of our agreements for Train Operators.
This matter has been considered by the General Grades Committee, which has taken the decision to declare a dispute situation and to ballot affected members for industrial action. Furthermore, all RMT Reps are instructed not to cooperate with any work to facilitate these proposals and relevant Branches will be consulted on the possibility of members taking strike action should management not withdraw these proposals.
was done last year without any problems so how come they decide this year to strike about it ?
ReplyDeleteBoth RMT and ASLEF ar prepared to ballot for strike action over any changes to working conditions for Drivers. As the Management at the moment appear to be winning with there plans for stations, they, may feel it is worth testing to see if Drivers are prepared to keep coming out on strike, over every issue. I can afford to take action every week but can everyone else, do that? So it is possible they will keep chipping away to test Drivers resolve.
ReplyDeleteAnd for once, how about you consider what is best for the passengers in all this rahter than sticking to your own agreements which do nothing but inconvenience the travelling public.
DeleteSo what if they want the Piccadilly Line to run to Ealing Broadway. Would it really hurt drivers to show a bit of flexibility and to actually bother about customer service and providing said service.
Personally, for every day drivers go on strike, I would fine them a weeks salary, but I appreciate that will never happen, its not allowed
So we should just let management do whatever they feel like regardless of any previous agreements, let them simply ignore any negotiated terms and conditions that they deem to be inconvenient? Perhaps management should consider the passengers before provoking its employees, perhaps they should lose a weeks wages for each day lost due to their breaking agreements and failure to negotiate a settlement.
DeleteOh no, can't blame management, its always staff's fault.
'So what if they want the Piccadilly Line to run to Ealing Broadway. Would it really hurt drivers to show a bit of flexibility and to actually bother about customer service and providing said service.'
DeleteWell Piccadilly line T/Ops aren't road trained to Ealing, so they have to do the journey with a District line instructor in the cab, which is just a pain for everybody. You can't just use a satnav.
It's also hard to see why it would be necessary, when the District line's Ealing Common depot can be used to supply the trains and Acton Town crew depot can be used to supply the crews. And anyway the Central will be running.
Mind you, I say that, but I don't know if West Ken's available to reverse. If it's not, that would go some way to explaining it. That's 'cause if West Ken isn't available, the next reversing point is Hammersmith, but you can't reverse east to west at Hammersmith local (District line). You can get onto the fast (the Picc), but that's no good, because the D stock can't go along the Picc east of Hammersmith and there are no reversing opportunities at Barons Court. With the 73s running to Ealing, they can also serve the local (District line) as far as Hammersmith and then get back onto the Picc. There could be no D stock service on the local if West Ken's unavailable.What that'd mean is a pointless D stock service between Acton Town and Ealing, with the 73s taking over Acton local to Hammersmith local to Barons Court fast to Cockfosters. That would be less useful.
DeleteAgree but how come then ran last year without any problems ?
ReplyDeleteIf there is a a majority for strike action and the Piccadilly Drivers are determined that we will refuse to do any duties that has Ealing Broadway destination between Christmas and the New Year then the District will have to run between Acton Town and Ealing Broadway or the Central line will have more trains running, to Ealing Broadway. More Central line Drivers, will be needed to be booked on and then there will be less chance, to have annual leave days at that time. But could not an incentive be offered to Piccadilly Drivers instead of Management saying you will do as we say.
ReplyDeleteBut that still doesn't answer the question why didn't the rmt not object to it last year but are this year ?
ReplyDeleteGood question asked above.
ReplyDeleteNo answer to it being alright last year but not this year question anybody?
ReplyDeleteBoring technical question: is there any confirmation that the breathalyser in question was a semiconductor type, not a fuel cell type? I ask because it's only the semiconductor type that are sensitive to ketones (that diabetes can produce in the breath). And if it was a fuel cell type, was the calibration in date? Those would be reasonable grounds to challenge the result.
ReplyDeleteyour blog Provides things are helps me to find my options. your blog is very nice for me please keep it up.I like it
ReplyDeleteVisit :- Driving lessons Ealing