1st of March

DEFENDING JOBS, PENSIONS & AGREEMENTS - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/374, 22nd December 2023), the Union has raised the issue of Fleet Staffing Levels with LUL and data suggests that only 80% of positions in Fleet Depots are currently filled.

This practice of not filling vacancies is putting enormous strain on Fleet Grades members to cover the workload and keep the train fleets moving. Also the restrictions on transfers is having a significant detrimental effect by creating unnecessarily long waiting lists.

The understaffing of Fleet grades within London Underground is a key contributing factor to problems with rolling stock as recently demonstrated on the Central Line and this situation can only get worse and spread to other depots and areas.

The long-running dispute in defence of members' jobs, pensions and agreements continues and the Union will not accept Fleet jobs being cut by the imposition of significant reductions in safety critical staffing.

The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and I have written to the Company seeking an urgent disputes resolution meeting over this issue. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.