04.05.17
RMT plans strike at London Bridge over staff assault incident
Union RMT yesterday announced strikes on the London Underground on 7 May as part of an escalation of its dispute with TfL over “London Bridge Three”.
RMT threatened action last month after one member of staff was allegedly sacked and two others disciplined for their handling of an incident on the Tube.
According to the union, a passenger who had not paid their fare assaulted the three members of staff, including one worker who was reportedly pregnant.
Despite this, one member of staff was subsequently sacked for “inciting or provoking a violent incident” while the other two were given 52-week final warnings.
However, representatives from LU have stated that this version of events is “simply untrue”. Brian Woodhead, its operations director, said: “CCTV footage from a number of different angles clearly shows a staff member displaying unacceptable conduct when dealing with a member of the public.”
He added that the member of staff in question was dismissed following a “full and thorough” investigation by LU into the incident.
“We have subsequently invited the general secretary of the union to view the footage himself, but our invitation has not been accepted,” Woodhead argued.
“That offer is still open and, while we intend to keep London Bridge station open throughout the strike, I encourage the RMT leadership to do the right thing and call off this unjustifiable industrial action.”
RMT will now ballot its members across the Tube network, though strikes are not expected across the whole LU network. Industrial action is planned from 10pm on 7 May, lasting for 24 hours. All members at London Bridge are also set to take a number of actions short of strike from 8 May, including not servicing any ticket machines and not challenging customers who refuse to produce a valid ticket or Oyster card.
The union’s outspoken general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “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.”
Cash also accused LU of “flouting” its own zero tolerance policy and not fulfilling its duty of care to staff, arguing that LU’s response had “sent out a message to fare dodgers and yobbos that staff can be treated as punch bags with impunity”.
“That is an outrage that has enraged every single Tube employee who risks their neck on the stations and platforms against a backdrop of a growing pattern of abuse and violence,” Cash argued. “It is also an insult to the 3 million Tube users who pay their fares without expecting a free ride.”
The RMT has demanded LU to reinstate the member of staff and also lift the disciplinary action from the other two employees.
This development follows the union calling off strike action on the Night Tube last month after LU caved in to demands surrounding a staffing issue.
Top Image: Dominic Lipinski, PA Images
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