Below is the collective grievance submitted by the union reps (RMT and TSSA) on the Blackhorse Road group, listing the reasons why we object the effect that London Underground's job-cutting plans will have on our staffing levels and rosters.

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Collective Grievance on the Blackhorse Road Group in respect of the OSP rosters

We the Representative's of staff of the Blackhorse Road Group would like to raise a collective grievance, on behalf of our members, in respect of the rosters proposed at the Ad-Hoc Level 1 on the 6th July 2010. We believe that the proposed rosters will have a severe detrimental effect on the standard of customer service we are able to provide, will endanger both staff and customers and seriously damage the work life balance.

We wish to retain the rosters as they currently stand on the stations with the current full compliment of staff at all stations.

As follows, are specific points with which we disagree in the proposed rosters.

1. Lack of opportunity for meeting requests for flexible working.
2. Too much lone working on gatelines endangering both staff and passengers
3. No time is allowed in the BNS for banking or Pom servicing in the Ticket Offices.
4. Lack of staff numbers to respond to incidents.
5. Lack of staff numbers to implement station control effectively in an emergency.
6. Earlier closing times and later opening times in the Ticket Office resulting in poorer customer service for customers with ticketing problems and oyster card problems.
7. Too many shifts where only one Ticket Office window is open putting staff under severe pressure.
8. Too few long weekends in the proposed roster as opposed to the existing ones and more weekend working than at present.
9. Too many extreme shifts
10. An increase in travelling time for reserve staff now working at 6 stations instead of the current 5.
11. Many more shifts of 'other station' working for rostered staff
12. The lack of a fulltime SCRA at Highbury puts incredible pressure on the SS as they currently have 6 platforms to monitor (rising to 8) from the control room, how will this be accomplished when the SS is supposed to be covering the gate-line.
13. The Saturday 09.15 SAMF shift has to work at three stations across the group 2 times during the course of a shift travelling from Walthamstow to Highbury. If there is a problem with the service or any disruption, 4 people will be potentially denied a meal relief.
14. Seven Sisters SAMFs have too many mid week rest days, a split of 5 weekend rest days and 5 midweek resulting in a poor work life balance.
15. Seven Sisters pt evening Monday to Friday, the BNS shows the member of staff on the gate-line whereas the proposed Ticket Office opening times shows they should be in the Ticket Office.
16. Seven Sisters SAMFs go from 7 late turns (22.30 finish) to one rest day and then start again at 06.45. The rest day cannot be called such as the day will be spent sleeping resulting in severe disruption to sleep patterns.
17. Tottenham Hale and Walthamstow are being considered as the same as Blackhorse Road when Tottenham Hale is much busier.
18. Tottenham Hale SS is expected to work on the gate-line from 07.15 – 09.45 Monday to Friday, how are station announcements to be made, platforms monitored, real time information given while the SS is on the gate-line?
19. Tottenham Hale, too much pressure on Ticket Office staff with one window open apart from 08.00 -08.45
20. At Walthamstow there are 3 exits how can station control or an evacuation be properly controlled or organised if there is only 1 CSA and 1 SS on duty after the Ticket Office closes at 21.30/45. The car park exit is for the use of contractors and as such is never locked. It has to be open at all times and therefore give customers a potential way of access onto the station, when closed, or in an evacuation.
21. Blackhorse Road SAMF’s do 8 x 10 hour shifts in order too facilitate a 3 day weekend, this is putting unacceptable pressure on the staff
22. Under-staffing will leave staff and customers more open to assaults.
23. Increase of strain on relationships by having to work, too many evenings leaving families struggling to juggle a home-life and maintain a relationship.
24. Massive impact on childcare arrangements for families with two parents working fulltime, also the financial impact of increased child care costs, Blackhorse Road for example 13 late turns in a 4 week period.
25. Increased risk of stations falling below minimum numbers and having to be kept closed at start of traffic due to SAMFs starting later then station opening times. The SAMF has traditionally been the failsafe in the event of the early turn CSA being late or calling in sick.
26. Reductions in staffing numbers will cause severe curtailing of staffs ability to offer a good level of service. This group has a high number of tourists and a high level of immigrants with limited English making face to face contact much more valuable. With fewer staff the customers will have little recourse to advice on tickets and travel.
27. Platform duties and SATS's are being withdrawn at Blackhorse Road, Highbury and Tottenham Hale, this will lead to an increase in dwell times and withdrawing the immediate platform presence of staff to react to an incident on the platform train interface immediately. Removing these staff will have a negative effect on the overall performance of the railway.