Dignity for Drivers – access to toilets at work

Everyone should be able to use toilet and hygiene facilities when they need to, but for many train drivers that isn't the case during the working day.

22 Nov 2024| News

Everyone should be able to use toilet and hygiene facilities when they need to, but for many train drivers that isn’t the case during the working day.

That’s why ASLEF have launched the report and campaign Dignity for Drivers to coincide with World Toilet Day.

World Toilet Day is a UN day of action to raise awareness of the millions of people who do not have safe access to clean toilets and hygiene facilities. Train drivers are among thousands of transport workers worldwide who continue to have to fight for appropriate toilet access during the working day.

“Before privatisation the companies seemed to care about the staff who worked for them, now it’s all about performance indicators, numbers and shareholder dividends the staff are no longer deemed important. The lack of clean, safe, accessible toilets and regular toilet breaks is indicative of their approach.”

The Dignity for Drivers report was commissioned to assess the impact on drivers of a lack of facilities at work. Unity Consulting surveyed more than 3,000 train drivers and ran focus groups to hear from drivers about their experience.

Train drivers shared stories of having to resort to extreme measures including changing sanitary products in their cabs, leaving the train to urinate alongside the railway or using inappropriate containers.

“I have called in sick with a migraine on a heavy period day as I knew my diagram had trains with no toilets and minimum turnaround time. I couldn’t face 110+ stops with no access to a toilet. It’s too humiliating to call up with period problems and I don’t really want to have to discuss this with a manager.”

Many expressed concern that if they raise the need for an emergency personal needs break with signallers or managers they would be disciplined or investigated for delaying services.

ASLEF believes that all drivers should have reasonable time in their working day to access toilet and hygiene facilities and their use should reflect individual needs.

ASLEF are calling for:

A maximum period of 4 hours without access to toilet facilities as standard across the industry
The provision of safe, clean, accessible and dignified toilet and welfare facilities across the network
Drivers must be able to go to the toilet based on their individual and personal needs without being subjected to management interference, discrimination or disciplinary action
All operators to provide free sanitary products in the workplace and for them to be available across the network for drivers who want to use them

The Dignity for Drivers report was launched today at an event with decision makers from across the rail industry. ASLEF will continue to campaign for the key asks in this report and work with the industry to deliver dignity at work