London Underground workers to strike over sacking row
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Version 0 of 1. London Underground workers are to stage a short strike in a row over the sacking of a colleague. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will walk out from 9.30pm on 7 March until 3.59am the following day. The move follows a vote for industrial action over the dismissal of a driver for failing two alcohol breath tests. London Underground said it had zero tolerance towards drugs and alcohol but the union has described its policy as “outdated and flawed”. Nick Brown, the chief operating officer of London Underground, said: “This indefensible strike is about one RMT member [being] dismissed for failing two alcohol breath tests. “We will not be swayed by it as we will never compromise on the safety of our customers and staff. You wouldn’t let someone who had been drinking alcohol drive your family in a car, and we don’t let people who have been drinking alcohol drive people’s families in tube trains. “Less than a quarter of the RMT members eligible to vote for strike action did so. For the RMT leadership to announce a strike regardless shows how completely out of touch they are, just as the timing demonstrates that they know they have very little support from their members on this issue. “Should they go through with this action, it will achieve nothing and we’ll work to ensure Londoners are kept informed and can still get around.” Mick Cash, the general secretary of the RMT, said there had been a campaign of “misinformation and smears” against the union. In a message to members, he said: “This action is the first stage of part of a rolling programme of industrial action and I urge all RMT London Underground train operators and instructor operators to stand firm together against this and any future injustices against RMT members.” |