Tube staff to strike for 24hrs following sacking of a colleague

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The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have confirmed that staff on the London Underground will strikes for 24hrs from 10pm on May 7th over the sacking of a colleague.

Workers voted to strikes over a dispute regarding the dismissal of another member of staff. The RMT says that one RMT member was dismissed and two others disciplined for intervening in a serious assault on other members of the workforce – including one who was pregnant.

Known as ‘The London Bridge Three’, staff claim that a fare-dodger assaulted colleagues – pushing the pregnant worker in the stomach, stealing the glasses of another, and punching the third twice.

It’s reported that London Underground (LU) are denying that the pregnant female was assaulted, and have disciplined the staff member who initially challenged the customer to produce a ticket with “inciting or provoking an incident”.

Phil O’Hare, the Jubilee Line’s general manager, said that the incident had already been investigated, stating: “After a thorough investigation, which included an extensive review of CCTV footage that we are confident completely contradicts the account of the individual in question, the decision to dismiss this member of staff has been upheld. a senior level review of the case is now underway. We take a zero tolerance approach to violence against our staff but similarly expect our employees to adhere to acceptable standards of conduct and behaviour when dealing with members of the public.We urge the RMT to withdraw this call for strike action, which will only result in needless disruption to Londoners, while the disciplinary process is still ongoing.”

RMT general secretary Mick Cash says “Our members have voted for action in support of their victimised colleagues at London Bridge and with LU making it absolutely clear they have no interest in the principles of natural justice we have no option at all but to move to a campaign of industrial action. The union executive will also continue to look at a programme of escalation in this critically important dispute. This is one of the most appalling abuses of the LU disciplinary procedure that RMT has ever come across. This was a shocking, violent incident and those that bore the brunt of it should have been supported and commended by the company. Instead they have been sacked or disciplined in what is the most appalling multiple miscarriage of justice.”

If your journey will be impacted by industrial action, sign up to Liftshare to find or offer a lift around the capital.

 

Author Lex Barber

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