The main issues affecting our members were:

1. £5 Minimum PAYG Top Up

Management informed us that a briefing paper was being compiled for an Executive decision on whether to roll out the £5 minimum PAYG top up to all stations on the network. It looks likely that they will do this as it is clearly part of their on-going strategy to drive customers away from the ticket office windows.

Part of the April 2008 Ticket Office closures dispute resolution was an undertaking from the company that they would stop bringing in measures to actively drive customers away from the ticket office. It is clear that they are bringing in schemes such as the £5 minimum PAYG Top Up which is aimed at reducing the number of transactions at the ticket office which will inevitably pave the way for a cull of ticket office jobs. RMT are to include this trial as part of a referral to the company council where we will be demanding that the company stick to their existing agreements.

2.January Fare Revisions

The company provided details of the fare increases for January 2010,they informed us of an average fare increase of 3.9%,this with the current rate of inflation at -1.4%.It seems that as part of their contribution to ease the financial suffering of hard pressed Londoners, London Underground are imposing a whopping above inflation fare increase of 5.3%. RMT did point out that the company are only offering inflation +0.5% as part of next years pay deal yet they are raising fares by a massive 5.3% above inflation.

3.Use of Ticket Sellers Index (TSID) to Discipline staff

RMT provided a copy of a memo issued by a DSM from the Bank Group to all staff which relates to the Ticket Seller Index (TSID).The letter stated any individual identified as failing the index will have their details recorded on a database and if they fail 3 times in a ‘reasonable time frame’ then disciplinary action would be taken. This 3 strikes and you’re out rule goes against existing company agreements with the unions that mystery shopping surveys would not be used to pursue disciplinary action against staff.RMT insisted that this letter is withdrawn which management agreed to but were still insisting that TSID could be used as an initial indication of an individual’s performance. We advised them that this would not be acceptable and if they did not withdraw from this position then we would raise the issue at the Stations Functional Council. We advise all our members to report any instances of mystery shopping surveys or TSID information being used for disciplinary action to their local RMT Rep or a Stations Functional Rep.