RMT Regional Organiser John Leach has written to London Underground Human Resources Boss Gerry Duffy in response to a trains operations staff manager asking subordinate managers whether they would be willing to work as 'Incident Station Supervisors' with just a 4 day training course. In Leach's letter to Duffy he explains that he is "extremely concerned with the Health & Safety implications" of this proposal as there is a "rigorous training programme for Station Supervisors."

The request for volunteers asked:

• Do you currently hold a valid Station Supervisor licence? If you do, would you be prepared to volunteer and work as a Station Supervisor and if so which station(s)?
• If you don’t hold a current licence, would you be prepared to renew it and volunteer to work as a Station Supervisor (and again, at which station?)
• Would you need to undertake the 4 day ISS course with 1 day station assessment or would you 
  require just the online assessment & 1 day station assessment?

RMT Regional Organiser John Leach concludes his letter to Duffy by stating that if he finds the position of Incident Station Supervisor acceptable then "you surely confirm that you are content with a dumbing down of the grade and guilty of contempt of your employees in post and the public they carry."

We will publish a response as and when we get it.

The Letter

12th December 2013

Dear Gerry

TRAWL FOR INCIDENT STATION SUPERVISOR

Please see the attached notice put out by one of your Train Operations Standards Manager in which he trawls for interest in “Incident Station Supervisors” positions. I do not know how widespread activity such as this is and only hope it is the unilateral action of a rogue manager and not an officially sanctioned initiative. Whatever the case, this trawl and any others like it should they have occurred must be stopped immediately.

I am not aware of the position of “Incident Station Supervisor” ever having been negotiated with this or any other trade union and I regard this action as being hostile and out with all known agreed procedures, grades structures etc.

I am also extremely concerned with the Health & Safety implications of what is being solicited here. There exists a rigorous training programme for Station Supervisors and the required standards for appointment to this position are high.

This proposal not only undermines all that but it contradicts all of your company’s statements about high standards, is unsafe and could lead to disaster. By such a safety breach you are putting the travelling public and staff directly at risk

I trust you will now fully accept my position now I have made my views known to you and substantiated them. Should this not be the case, then you surely confirm that you are content with a dumbing down of the grade and guilty of contempt of your employees in post and the public they carry.

I await your comments.

Yours sincerely

John Leach
REGIONAL ORGANISER

• The RMT has 'live' industrial action regarding Incident Customer Service Assistants - now known as TfL Ambassadors. Full details here.