Please download, print and distribute widely

This is an open letter from station staff RMT members to our support staff
 (AG1’s in old money).We have become increasingly concerned at the proposals
 you are facing as part of LU’s so-called Transformation.We ourselves have just
 been dragged through the lunacy of Fit for the Future Stations, and we always
 knew that when LU had finished with us, other groups of LU staff would likely
 come under the cosh.
 We do not want to see job cuts to the group cover support grade, firstly as a
 matter of trade union principle, and secondly because as station staff we need
 support that is station-based, where our admin staff know the location, the
 people and the running of the Area/Cover Group.We do not want our admin
 based in ‘hubs’ where they are out of reach, out of touch and under pressure.
 We recognise that our admin staff are already under-resourced, that vacancies
 go unfilled and that the stresses of the job lead to sickness.Therefore the idea
 that our support staff numbers should be cut by around a third, (down to only
 53) is plainly nonense. It’ll make your job even more stressful and will make life
 difficult for station staff.
 One of the principle reasons that LU is throwing its weight around with
 Transformation, telling the unions it’s ‘consultation not negotiation’, is because
 management believe there are too few union members to worry about a
 proper fightback. Sadly, it’s true that union density (any union) is poor in many
 of the areas subject to Transformation.
 TfL’s plans can be challenged;TfL can be forced to change direction. Although
 LU was able to force through much of Fit for the Future, much of it was
 dropped, amended or quietly shunted into a corner. Importantly, LU was forced
 to employ 325 station staff after we took strike action.That strike action put
 paid to the notion that ‘station staff can’t win on their own.’
 We hear the same with your grade.The pessimists say there’s no point in
 admins being in a union, or that ‘Transformation can’t be stopped’. Neither is
 true; all admin (all staff!) should be in a union, and the best union to join is
 RMT.Transformation won’t be stopped unless there’s resistance; resistance has
 to be organised.
 Join RMT today at www.rmt.org.uk or call 07801 071363 for further info, or
   speak to any local RMT rep.The union branch for all TfL staff and LU admin
 workers meets every payday at Blue Eyed Maid, 173 Borough High St, SE1 1HR,
  but members/joiners are welcome at any of the line-based meetings.
  In solidarity, RMT stations members.