Memorandum from the Transport & General
Workers Union (T&G) (TS 34)
1. INTRODUCTION
The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G)
welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Transport Committee
inquiry on UK Transport Security.
With over 835,000 members in every type of workplace
the T&G is the UK's biggest general union and has a long and
proud tradition of representing members in the workplace.
Over 200,000 of our members are employed in
the transport sector, including commercial road transport, docks
and waterways, civil air transport as well as passenger services.
Members work as cabin crew, airport staff, bus drivers, freight
and container handlers, tram and taxi drivers and tugboat and
marine pilots.
2. SUMMARY
The T&G response will address the following
issues:
Consultation—The T&G
believe that the Department for Transport has failed to proactively
consult with trade unions with regards to the security issues
that we are all currently facing in the transport sector.
Security/Criminal Record Checks—The
T&G are concerned that transport employers are using an increasing
amount of criminal record checks as the mechanism for bringing
about a supposed safer more secure transport industry.
Inconsistent Application of the
Rules—The T&G is alarmed at the lack of consistency
in the way that security and criminal record checks are being
conducted across all transport modes.
Classification of Dangerous Goods—The
T&G believe there is a primary need for a classification of
dangerous goods vehicles, in order to make an initial attempt
at trying to quantify any potential dangers.
Training—There are obvious
concerns for T&G members who work within the transport industry
with regards to the security training and raising awareness that
they need.
3. T&G RESPONSE
Consultation
All too often Government departments with responsibility
for transport have only consulted trade unions in a reactive way
which is of a disadvantage to all stakeholders, especially the
travelling public.
An example of this is the fact that the T&G
had to ask the Department for Transport for the security guidance
that they had produced for buses, due to a T&G member who
is a bus driver, requesting it from us. The Department of Transport
hadn't thought to send it out to the T&G otherwise nor consult
us for advice on its content.
Trade unions need to be at the forefront on
any discussions on transport security at the outset. The T&G
has vast amounts of vital information and experience to contribute
to debates on transport security due to our close contacts with
our members who work in the industries who have extensive practical
experience which should be shared if transport is going to be
made as safe as it can possibly be.
The T&G and other unions have various members
on security boards across all areas of transport. The T&G
along with other trade unions should be given further places on
the relevant security boards so that we can share the experiences
that our members have with regards to transport security.
Security/Criminal Record Checks
The T&G believe that the philosophy of the
criminal record checks is based on a false premise, which is that
criminal records checks will help to eradicate criminal activity
from the transport industry which will result in a safer transport
system for workers and public alike.
The T&G response to this is that this is
a crude attempt at social engineering and does not deal with the
real issue, which is the security and safety of passengers, staff
and property within the transport sector.
The direction of the criminal record checks
must be changed to specifically address issues of security and
not to address the propensity of individuals to violent acts,
or behave in a dishonest manner, or abuse the trust put in them.
These are issues that should be dealt with within the employment
contract and not subject to criminal record check procedures.
These are not frivolous concerns, these are
based on our experiences of the application of criminal record
checks in restricted zones of airports and the use employers are
making of information from criminal records checks in regard to
the employment of individuals. The T&G are concerned that
giving specific information about an employee to an employer may
contravene the Information Act. The act of refusing or withdrawing
the security clearance by the Transport Security and Contingencies
Directorate (TRANSEC) in itself, is enough, without giving the
reasons why to the employer, especially as they may use this information
for other purposes.
The T&G would like to draw attention to
the people employed in the ports who are also being subjected
to security and criminal record checks. Also in the future these
checks may be extended to professional lorry drivers who will
enter secure areas in ports and airports. The T&G believe
that TRANSEC and other bodies should be having discussions with
us on the general issue of security and criminal record checks
in regard to transport workers.
Also, though not a direct security issue, bus
workers are being subject to criminal record checks, especially
those carrying school children. The T&G has had members dismissed
as a result of criminal record checks being initiated by local
authorities, who are not their employers. The T&G believe
this situation is fundamentally wrong and believe that the Traffic
Commission should be the relevant competent authority in determining
the fitness of a professional driver to work in the industries.
Inconsistent Application of the Rules
The T&G are aware of a number of incidences
when procedures relating to restricted zone passes in airports
have been ignored or are inconsistently applied.
As we understand the situation the primary purpose
of criminal record checks is to ensure the security of airports.
Therefore we find it difficult to understand when an industrial
dispute occurs, people without restricted zone passes are allowed
to work in these areas. How can it be that economic considerations
appear to override security concerns? Or is it simply the case
that employers for their own selfish economic reasons can compromise
security with the blessing of the relevant authorities? If this
is the case surely then the principle should be applied at all
times and criminal record checks for restricted zones should be
scrapped.
The T&G is finding an increased number of
workers in civil air transport coming from other EU states in
particular Poland where different standards are being applied
which is a concern in respect too UK security. The T&G is
also concerned that different standards are being applied to residents
of Northern Ireland. Clearly there must be a consistent standard
applied to all criminal record checks, whether the person is from
the UK mainland, NI or other countries from or outside the European
Union.
Classification of Dangerous Goods Vehicles
Before any Truckwatch scheme or alternative
tracking system on freight movement is in place. The first step
is to establish what type of threat each vehicle and its cargo
possesses. In order to do this the T&G believes that a classification
of levels of risk for dangerous good vehicles needs to be conducted:
(a) Dangerous = chemical, petrol, etc.
(b) Economic = cigarettes, food, etc.
Once a classification list of levels of risk
has been conducted then vehicles could then be coded depending
on the level of risk and a Truckwatch scheme or alternative tracking
system on freight movement would then have a basis from which
they have assessed which vehicles are of a security priority.
Training
There are obvious concerns for our members with
regards to training to deal with:
(a) the prevention of terrorist incidents;
and
(b) a future terrorist incident.
An example of this was when one of our members
found a suspect package on their bus. The individual was unsure
of what to do with the suspect package because they had never
received any security training or guidance of what to do in this
situation.
The T&G contacted TRANSEC to gain the security
guidance for the bus driver so that they now know what to do in
the event of finding a suspect package on their bus. However the
T&G believe that they should have been sent this information
without having to ask for it from TRANSEC.
The T&G must be consulted along with other
trade unions if we are going to play our role in helping to educate
and prepare transport workers against potential terrorist incidents.
4. CONCLUSION
The T&G's main conclusions are as follows:
Consultation
— All too often Government departments
with responsibility for transport have only consulted trade unions
in a reactive way which is of a disadvantage to all stakeholders,
especially the travelling public.
— Trade unions need to be at the forefront
on any discussions on transport security at the outset.
— The T&G along with other trade
unions should be given further places on the relevant security
boards so that we can share the experiences that our members have
with regards to transport security.
Security/Criminal Record Checks
— The T&G believe that the philosophy
of the criminal record checks is based on a false premise, which
is that criminal records checks will help to eradicate criminal
activity and result in a safer transport system for workers and
public alike. They should be dealt with within the employment
contract.
— The T&G are concerned that giving
specific information about an employee to an employer may contravene
the Information Act.
— The direction of the criminal record
checks must be changed to specifically address issues of security
and not to address the propensity of individuals to violent acts,
or behave in a dishonest manner, or abuse the trust put in them.
— The T&G believe that TRANSEC
and other bodies should be having discussions with us on the general
issue of security and criminal record checks in regard to transport
workers.
— The Traffic Commission should be
responsible for undertaking criminal record checks and not the
employer. The T&G believe this situation is fundamentally
wrong and believe that the Traffic Commission should be the relevant
competent authority in determining the fitness of a professional
driver to work in the industries.
Inconsistent Application of the Rules
— The T&G are aware of a number
of incidences when procedures relating to restricted zone passes
in airports have been ignored or are inconsistently applied.
— The T&G is finding an increased
number of workers in civil air transport coming from other EU
states in particular Poland where different standards are being
applied which is a concern in respect too UK security.
— The T&G is also concerned that
different standards are being applied to residents of Northern
Ireland. Clearly there must be a consistent standard applied to
all criminal record checks, whether the person is from the UK
mainland, NI or other countries from or outside the European Union.
Classification of Dangerous Goods Vehicles
— Before any Truckwatch scheme or alternative
tracking system on freight movement is in place. The first step
is to establish what type of threat each vehicle and its cargo
possesses.
— In order to do this the T&G believes
that a classification of levels of risk for dangerous good vehicles
needs to be conducted.
Training
— The T&G must be consulted if
trade unions are going to play their role in helping to educate
and prepare transport workers against potential terrorist incidents.
January 2006
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