New London Underground Uniform
RMT Uniform Consultative Committee Update, April 2015

What’s happened so far?
2013 – 2014: uniform design. The RMT Uniform Committee reps gave feedback to the designers, prioritising comfort and practicality. Like most staff, we argued for a professional look, as opposed to the multi-coloured, clown-like look that LU initially proposed.

November – December 2014: wearer trial. This involved staff at stations including Camden Town, Oxford Circus and Greenford and depots including Edgware Road. Based on feedback, your uniform committee reps raised concerns about the cut, colour, warmth and comfort of the uniform. See http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/files/here_are_the_comments_from_the_...

Thermal underwear
RMT reps on the uniform committee have been pursuing the need for thermal underwear for years, hugely helped by the 700 RMT station members who responded to an RMT ‘thermal comfort’ survey in 2013, which prompted LU to give us thermal trousers. RMT’s response to the wearer trial highlighted how thin and cold the new uniform was, the need for LU to assess the uniform’s TOG rating and provide us with thermal tops.

On 6th January 2015, LU announced the changes it had made to the uniform design as a result of the wearer trial. This included the news that it would provide us with thermal tops! RMT can take credit for this. LU mocked RMT when we first asked for thermals at a uniform committee meeting in 2012, saying it was not LU’s job to ‘provide staff with underwear’. Today’s change of heart would not have happened without RMT’s 2013 survey and belligerence over this issue.

LU also agreed to the following changes in response to feedback from the wearer trial:

• A lining for the overcoat; increasing the TOG rating and closing off the cuffs and collars on some garments to protect us from wind.
• Smaller, toned-down roundels on a lot of garments.
• Male and female cuts on most garments.
• Instead of using one material for the whole year, LU will issue different trousers for summer and winter. This is something that RMT had been arguing for.

What’s happening next?
May 2015: the ‘vanguard’. Staff at ‘Gateway’ stations and other locations including DLR and London Overground will be the first to wear the new uniform.
September/October 2015. The new uniform will be rolled out across London Underground.

Report from the Uniform Committee meeting, 24th March 2015
We made it clear that RMT is not 100% happy with the final design. For example, LU went back on its promise that all grades would get ‘cargo trousers’. Now all grades will have to wear smart, suite-like trousers with a small pointless pocket on the leg. This is not what RMT or any of us wanted. It’s clearly about shifting everyone into a ‘customer facing’ mind-set, which fits the new uniform’s purpose: re-branding LU as ‘Fit for the Future’.

The size and the cut
RMT raised the issue of sizing because, during the wearer trial, items mainly fitted people of slim proportions. LU assured us that sizing had been revised since the wearer trial. Staff issued with ill-fitting uniform in May will be able to exchange it. Alteration vouchers will be available. Staff will be allowed to wear old uniform until they get new uniform that fits. If there is a significant number of requests for alterations, then the sizing will be adjusted before the uniform is rolled out in September. The cut and sizing will continually reviewed. RMT asked for locations to try on various sizes before placing orders, which LU said it could not accommodate. RMT asked LU to avoid delay in exchanging items; LU promised a guaranteed turnaround to keep delay to a minimum.

Uniform Standard
For the new uniform, LU will get rid of the rigid ‘uniform standard’. It will issue guidance, but we will be able to ‘mix and match’ our garments.

We asked, ‘Does that mean that the cravat will be compulsory for women?’ LU’s answer was, ‘No’.

We asked, ‘Does that mean men won’t have to wear ties?’ LU’s answer was, ‘It will be up to the local manager’s interpretation of LU’s guidance’.

We asked, ‘Will staff be able to carry on wearing Magnum boots if they prefer them to the new shoes?’ LU said that they would get back to us.

We asked, ‘Will station staff be allowed to wear shorts?’ LU said, ‘No’ and added that they were hoping that train cabs would soon be cool enough for drivers to wear trousers. LU even quipped about how cool ‘driverless trains’ will be, which we insisted was not an appropriate comment.

Keeping us cool
RMT asked about the materials used for the new uniform. LU said that the new polo shirt will be 65% polyester. RMT raised concerns. For example, station staff might have to rush from a cold gateline to a hot platform to meet a VIP. If we sweat, then we will be extra cold when we return to the gateline. RMT recommended that LU minimises this by using material with ‘wicking properties’, which reduce the effects of sweating by drawing moisture away from the skin. LU said it will stick to its chosen materials but monitor staff feedback when the uniform is introduced.

‘Going mobile’
The manager from the ‘Going Mobile’ project showed us three designs for a satchel that will contain our i pads and other equipment. RMT has not agreed to the use of i pads in the first place, and has strong objections to the idea of a ‘grab bag’ which will make the i pad visible and make us feel very vulnerable to assault at work. The satchel design will be discussed further by trains and stations safety reps.