BUSES TRIPARTITE MEETING

Date: 20th June 2017 Venue: 8GC1, London Bridge

Attendees Initials Representing

Claire Mann CM Director of Service Delivery and Operations (Buses) Tom Cunnington TC Snr Commercial Development Manager Tony Akers TA Head of Bus Operations, Surface Transport Andy Brook AB Workplace Support Unit (Items 1-3) Fiona Taylor FT Managing Director, RAPT Tony Wilson TW Managing Director, Abellio London & Surrey Charlie Beaumont CB Chief Operating Officer, Tower Transit Wayne King WK Senior Regional Coordination Officer (UNITE) John Murphy JM Regional Officer (UNITE) Bruce Swann BS Vice Chair of London Advisory Committee (UNITE) Kevin Stagg KS Chairman of London Advisory Committee (UNITE) Andrew Cruickshank AC Business Manager, Contracted Services

1. INTRODUCTIONS & UPDATES

1.1 Introductions and Apologies The minutes of March 16 this were approved by all parties. There were no apologies. 1.2 Previous Actions Update . Provide operators with TfL period-based statistics on open OPEN and closed assault investigation cases (Andy Brook) . Provide details of spit kits on buses in fleet CLOSED . Provide details of driver skills workshops for circulation (WK) CLOSED . Arrange TUPE meeting with Unite to address concerns (TC) CLOSED . Seek Met Police/WSG guidance on protocols for dealing with CLOSED spitting assaults and capture of DNA evidence. Roll out spit OS kits. Identify any issues with assault follow-up process 2. BUSINESS UPDATE

2.1 Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) The draft Mayor Transport Strategy will be published tomorrow (June 21) and within this will be a balanced approach to bus travel, cycling and walking. The TfL budget for 2017/18 anticipates 6.5 per cent lower fares revenue from the bus network than the Business Plan forecast. TfL is operating slightly better than this position in the year to date because of more encouraging excess wait time and average bus speeds. These measures are also on the Surface Scorecard to promote a more business-wide focus. The buses team is working with highways colleagues to combat a higher frequency of roadworks predicted for later this year. The overall Business Plan expected to see patronage growth return to London, assisted by London’s forecast population rise and current levels of economic activity, and the network adapted to changes in bus supply and demand in the interim. Work to make the network more attractive to new customers continues in population growth areas such as Barkingside.

1 2.2 Oxford Street Pedestrianisation WK expressed concern that if bus services were declining in the short term there would be impacts on bus driver jobs. CM said she was not aware of any changes having impacts on front-line positions and added TfL was working to return underlying growth to London at a time of forecast population rise. JM asserted that 20 jobs would be lost at Putney Garage because of the withdrawal of buses from Oxford Street. TW said that while Oxford Street was a corridor with falling patronage the TfL Business Plan saw bus mileage rising over time. In the meantime the bus map of London would change with outer areas likely to provide more growth than the centre. 2.3 Humanitarian Efforts CM praised the efforts of front-line staff for giving humanitarian aid and emergency transport to residents affected by the Grenfell Tower fire as well as victims of the terrorist attack at London Bridge. It there were employees worthy of particular mention, she invited Unite to provide details of individuals. ACTION: Consider nominations for Grenfell Tower UNITE 2.4 Bus Retrofit Programme The Mayor’s Transport Strategy will give continued focus to air quality in London, supported by the selective catalytic reduction programme affecting around half the vehicles in the bus fleet. 2.5 Hello London Customer Experience Programme As bus drivers indicate the service they provide is influenced by operational colleagues working at TfL, these staff will also attend a one-day version of the Hello London course. 2.6 Bus Safety Programme CM emphasised the Bus Safety Programme remained on course and supported the London Mayor’s Vision Zero approach. The central element – the new Bus Safety Standard (BSS) – would look at safety technology, bus layout and interior design, and materials used. The test house to help develop the new bus standard would be appointed shortly. WK asked for dates when bus drivers had been asked their views on the proposed BSS? TC said stakeholder work would take place after the technical evaluation stage when there would be proposals to comment on. ACTION: Contact Unite when BSS trials are to commence TC 3. SAFETY AND BUS DRIVER ASSAULTS (SPIT KITS)

3.1 Spit Kits AB provided a snapshot of 197 driver assaults from January to March this year, of which 59 (30%) involved spitting. Where samples were collected, 80 per cent produced a DNA profile. In 17 cases, spit kits were used incorrectly or were out of date. He reported was fitting spit kits to the bulkheads of bus cabs following trialling of packs behind driver seats and checking if kits were expired or required replacing through engineering monitoring. Guidance on how to use kits and Met police policy was sent to all bus operators and Unite the Union to raise awareness of the best way to secure evidence. CB said there had been uncertainty over evidence collecting and the police process but this was now clear as was what

2 constituted a legitimate sample. Tower Transit was following the Metroline approach by fitting spit kits in the driver’s cab and would then follow this up with notices. WK confirmed that fitting spit kits in the cab was by far the best approach for drivers. He asked if union convenors had been asked about the roll out of kits. CB said Tower Transit had invited its union representative to speak to his counterpart at Metroline. JM recommended putting adverts or signs up to warn the public of prosecution and encourage drivers to report assaults. CM said she would arrange for spit kit guidance to be emailed to WK. AB is to seek prosecution rates from the Met Police to understand what proportion of the 80 per cent of samples successfully obtained result in positive court outcomes. BS asked how many drivers were trained to use spit kits, adding that only through his personal intervention and insistence had this issue moved forward at Metroline. WK suggested that fitting kits to cabs could be mandated as a London-wide standard. CM said she would ensure drivers had spit kits and guidance, and suggested specific issues be dealt with locally. ACTION: Send spits kit process guidance to WK CLOSED

ACTION: Prosecution rates from confirmed DNA samples AB 4. LATE FINISHES

4.1 Managing Late Finishes TC advised that the pattern of late finishes was highly fluid with many previous issues resolved and new issues occurring for different reasons. There had been a decline in the first two reporting periods of 2017/18 for these cases to come forward. WK alleged late finishes were not discussed and addressed consistently across bus operators. KS asserted that fines for late finishes would prevent them happening. CB said convenors could raise details at trade union meetings at Tower Transit. JM said Unite had previously suggested being involved in risk assessments for road works, given the impacts on headways and late finishes of up to 60-90 minutes. CM said TfL was more pragmatic in its approach to managing impacts to route performance and accepted schedule changes if there were good reasons. TW added Abellio held forums Unite convenors to address this type of issue. TC added that TfL was getting better at forecasting highways disruption and agreeing revisions to schedules or wider headways so the potential impacts on drivers were lessened. TA said there was a long forward list of potential road schemes although these do not provide significant detail. ACTION: Provide list of potential road schemes CHECK TA 5. HEALTH BUS

5.1 Vehicle and Staffing TC said he was seeking support from bus operators to source a more suitable health awareness bus. Once a vehicle was found, TA said TfL would fit it out, provide a new livery and then look to Unite to provide the health awareness staff. The vehicle could

3 then visit garages to promote health and healthier lifestyles in the latter part of the year. ACTION: TC to seek vehicle for health awareness work TC 6. LONDON LIVING WAGE (LLW)

6.1 London Living Wage (LLW) WK expressed unease and frustration that LLW had not been resolved to employees’ satisfaction. CM said that TfL was committed to meeting its obligations following a review of its framework agreement and having made its position clear to bus operators. Further discussion would need to be off line. 7. TUPE MATTERS

7.1 Unite and Bus Operator Dialogue TfL aims to revise TUPE guidance over the summer following constructive discussions with operator representatives and Unite on June 1. This should help simplify the process and reduce disruption to affected staff. TC said he would circulate the updated guidance at the Tripartite Meeting. JM said it would be applied as a ``flush through’’ process rather than retrospectively. It was agreed new guidelines would be effective from the date they were added to the Framework Agreement and not applied retrospectively. ACTION: Circulate revised TUPE guidance to Tripartite TC 8. ANTI-RACISM STATEMENT

8.1 Support of Statement TfL is looking to endorse a Unite statement on anti-racism which builds on the anti-hate crime campaign called We Stand Together a year ago. This has been reviewed by the TfL Press Office which now intends to liaise with the Unite Press Team to take this initiative forward. The current statement reads:- London is a world city, embracing different nationalities and people from all backgrounds. No more so is this reflected on the capital’s buses where over 25,000 drivers from across the globe keep London on the move 24 hours a day. We are proud of this diversity. It is what makes London stronger and makes it the outward looking tolerant city we know and love. Together we pursue a zero tolerance approach towards racism and hate crime on London’s buses. Intolerance and fear has no place on our capital’s buses. No one, either bus drivers or the 2.3 billion passengers a year they carry, should be subject to racism or hate. Together we are one London. ACTION: Liaise with TfL Press Office to agree plan CM 9. LICENSE FOR LONDON

9.1 Detail Around Scope TC said the bus operators were generally positive around the benefits. WK said comments on what the main remaining issues were would be helpful. 10. NEXT MEETING

10.1 Proposed Date The next Tripartite Meeting is September 26, from 1400 to 1600.

4 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

11.1 London-wide Pay Structures WK requested discussions on what London-wide pay structures might look like as soon as possible. CB reminded WK that pay was a subject outside the scope of the Tripartite Meeting TOR. Ends

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