22.08.08
RMT station staff on Tube’s East Ham and Charing Cross station groups to strike tomorrow in separate disputes
RMT Station Staff working at eleven Tube stations between Plaistow and Upminster on London Underground’s District Line and at Elephant and Castle, Charing Cross and Lambeth North on the Bakerloo are to strike for 24 hours from 04:30 tomorrow, Friday August 22 in two separate disputes.
More than 90 staff on the East Ham group voted by a margin of more than 20 to one to take action over a breakdown of industrial relations sparked by local management ignoring procedures, the victimisation and harassment of staff and union reps and the sacking of station assistant Sarah Hutchins who had taken time off for pregnancy-related illnesses and after being assaulted at work.
And around 100 station staff at Charing Cross, Elephant and Castle and Lambeth North on the Bakerloo line will be striking for the second time to demand the re-instatement of Jerome Bowes who was unfairly dismissed after defending himself against a violent assault on New Year’s Eve. The Bakerloo dispute is now also set to be escalated with a ballot of RMT drivers at Elephant and Castle depot.
“These are separate disputes but there is a pattern emerging of unfair sackings, a rise in complaints about bullying and harassment, and the failure of LUL management to stand by staff who are victims of assault,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.
“Relations on the East Ham group could hardly be worse, and it is shocking that LUL is refusing to re-instate Sarah Hutchins, who has been fired for being pregnant and being assaulted.
“On the Charing Cross group our members have already taken action for the re-instatement of Jerome Bowes, who was sacked for defending himself against an attack from behind by someone who had already been involved in a fight on New Year’s Eve.
“Jerome’s colleagues are incensed at the treatment he has received, and the union has today agreed to a request to ballot drivers at Elephant and Castle depot for action as well.
“The bottom line in both these disputes is that our members have the right to work in an atmosphere of trust and co-operation and without the fear of being fired without good reason, and we want to see our members re-instated,” Bob Crow said.
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