On 10 February, RMT (and TSSA) reps attended the latest in a series of meetings with a London Underground Director to discuss the 'problem' of over-establishment CSAs. LUL opened the meeting by stating that the company now intends to displace some CSAs, but by the end of the meeting, your union had persuaded them to delay this pending a further meeting. If we carry on at this rate, the problem should resolve itself with no need to displace anyone!

At our previous meeting, there were 79 CSAs above official numbers. At the start of this meeting, management told us that there were now 57.5. Within half an hour, we had convinced them that there are in fact 48.5m as they should not count 3 on Wembley Central group (where LUL is still using agency staff), 4 on Paddington group (whom LUL pledged not to displace because they need them at Wood Lane) and 2 at Rickmansworth (whom LUL can not displace because they have already been displaced before!).

So the number of CSAs above official staffing levels has fallen by over 30 in two months. Another three-and-a-bit months should see the number fall to zero.

Management wanted us to discuss with them the process for displacing staff. RMT repied that we were only prepared to discuss ways of avoiding having to displace staff. We pointed out that some of our previous proposals that would help achieve this - for example, lifting the maximum limit on nominations for transfer or promotion - have still not been implemented.

The meeting ended with an agreement to meet again at the end of the month, and that LUL would not initiate any displacements before then. RMT has asked for the following information, which LUL management are pledged to provide in time for our next meeting:

• the number of CSAs who are staff from other grades reduced to CSA either voluntarily or as a disciplinary sanction
• the locations of all vacancies in all station grades
• the locations of all anticipated vacancies in all station grades eg. upcoming retirements, staff working notice periods, etc
• progress with lifting the maximum limit on promotion and transfer nominations
• the number of CSAs on promotional training courses
• the number of new CSAs posts currently under consideration of being created
• a report on progress with our proposal that where two part-time CSA posts are long-term vacant, they be replaced by a full-time post.