Driverless Trains A Major Health And Safety Risk To All Rail Passengers
Tube union RMT confirmed today that it is to ballot for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over plans to rip up the safety rule book and begin the testing of driverless trains on London Underground.
Further, a second rail union, ASLEF has told London Underground that its members will play no part in testing work relating to driverless trains. A letter from their General Secretary tells the company that ASLEF members who are Test Train Operators and Duty Team Leaders will not work on any project to test driverless trains from 29 September.
This follows a ballot of these grades which revealed 90% backing for action. Discussions between the union and the company on the issue have failed to come to any agreement.
Whilst this issue may seem at first glance to be solely about the London Tube, commentators clearly identify the fact that this will mean the edge of the wedge being devastatingly driven into the health and safety principles around passenger safety for all of the UK’s rail network.
Many no doubt also believe that if London Underground get their way, it wont be too long before seeing the same thing being introduced to at first local railway systems run by the likes of Merseyrail; and eventually across the national rail network too.
The RMT will be balloting all members who are test train drivers but the union has also made it clear that it will be looking at which other grades may be called upon to test-drive units with a view to balloting those staff as well.
Back in July, RMT leaked an internal LU document which exposed a secret agenda to move the entire Jubilee Line to driverless operation within three years, trialed later this year - with the other deep level tube lines to follow - without even train captains on board, to run stations unstaffed and to close ticket offices the length of the line.
The document, called “Deep Tube Railway – Generic Operations and Maintenance Concept – 2020” set out as one its core proposals: 'To produce an operating concept for a world class railway founded on unattended train operation”. Operating trains “without manual intervention”.'
The proposed tests of the driverless trains are due to start imminently. RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“RMT reiterates this union's complete opposition to driverless trains. Every train must have a driver, to ensure the safe and effective running of the Underground. Plans to scrap drivers or reduce their driving duties are risking safety, services and jobs and are motivated by saving money and undermining trade unionism.
We will be campaigning for a massive yes vote in this ballot and with further packages of tube staffing and service cuts expected to be unveiled by the Mayor and TFL shortly RMT is on high alert to use every weapon in our armoury to resist attacks on our members and the safe running of the tube network.”
Source: RMT / ASLEF
