TfL have persistently denied trade union recognition for graduate and apprentice trainees, despite us facing unprecedented challenges this winter. These include an ever-spiralling cost of living crisis, a broken housing market and a transport authority that struggles to adapt to workplace challenges, holding us back in our career development. 

We are now appealing to Sadiq Khan to uphold his manifesto commitment stating, “I expect all employers to be willing to have a trade union recognition agreement for all their employees, and will use GLA procurement to maximise their use” (Page 74, Sadiq for London 2021). The Mayor needs to instruct TfL to deliver this pledge. 

On the issue of EU membership, Sadiq Khan said that young people need their voices heard. As someone who was elected to office on the back of younger voters, our trust needs to be repaid and the Mayor, as the chair of the TfL board, needs to turn his words into actions. 

TfL know the importance that these schemes have in relation to our future careers but deny us from having a voice that can help shape our experience. As the future of TfL, graduates and apprentices need to be put at the forefront of the discussion to ensure that the authority is a dynamic workplace that reflects the makeup of London and is fit to tackle future challenges. By excluding our voices from the conversation, how will TfL represent the diversity of the city it claims to keep moving?

TfL will speak at us, but a conversation is a two-way street. Accountability, openness and honesty form part of the principles that TfL expect of their employees but graduates and apprentices expect the same values to be applied to us. Therefore, we as TfL graduate and apprentice trainees request collective bargaining recognition. 

Appendices

(1) - "I expect all employers to be willing to have a trade union recognition agreement for all their employees, and will use GLA procurement to maximise their use" Sadiq for London 2021 (Page 74)

(2) - "You must offer apprentices the same conditions as other employees" GOV.UK

(3) - "Your employment contract should cover areas such as the right to join a trade union" Your rights as an apprentice, TUC (Page 6)