Rail drivers to strike over sacking of two colleagues
Commuters face travel disruptions as row escalates
London: Commuters face considerable travel disruption in the coming weeks after it was announced that Tube workers are to take strike action in an escalating row over the sacking of two drivers.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has said its Tube drivers will stage three walkouts lasting between nine and 24 hours each from May 16 to May 20; and another three from June 13 to June 17.
The timing of the strikes means the underground network will be severely disrupted throughout the two weeks in question, with the union claiming the action will have a "major impact" on services.
The RMT's announcement follows a 2-1 vote in favour of industrial action by union members in protest at the dismissal of a Northern line driver, Eamon Lynch, and a Bakerloo line driver, Arwyn Thomas. Both men have gone to an employment tribunal claiming unfair dismissal.
The RMT members held a 24-hour strike in January over their dismissal and several other stoppages have taken place in recent months. In November, RMT workers walked out in a dispute over staffing levels at ticket offices. On Boxing Day the other train drivers' union, Aslef, went on strike over bank holiday pay.
The RMT claims the two were sacked because of their union activities. Both men were given an "interim relief" by an employment tribunal, although their full cases have yet to be heard.
The RMT said interim relief was granted only where there was the clearest possible evidence that an employee had been dismissed on the grounds of trade union activities. Lynch is the RMT's health and safety representative for Bakerloo line drivers and Thomas is a long-standing RMT activist.
Transport for London (TfL) denies the RMT's claims. TfL alleged one man breached safety rules while the other was abusive towards colleagues.
But the RMT said Lynch had an "unblemished" 15-year service record while Thomas had been an RMT member for 29 years and both were "clearcut cases of victimisation on the grounds of trade union activity".
