RMT Launches Campaign And Prepares To Ballot In Fight For Justice For Unfairly Dismissed Tube Driver

TUBE UNION RMT today launched a campaign for the reinstatement of tube driver James Masango who, despite winning by 100% an Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, has still not been re-engaged by London Underground.

James Masango’s case exposed an appalling litany of mismanagement which resulted in his Tribunal taking the rare step of finding 100% in his favour with not a single shred of evidence that there was any contributory fault on his part. Reinstatement in light of such an overwhelming verdict on his innocence should be automatic.

James was found to have been returned to driving duties too early after a period of sickness relating to an incident while at work despite the fact that LU’s own occupational health department had issued a memo saying that he should not be returned to driving duties, or be taking safety critical decisions, in light of blood pressure problems directly connected to the earlier incident.

As a consequence of these failures by the management side James was involved in a wrong side door incident and dismissed. In a damning judgment the Employment Tribunal said that:

“No reasonable employer could have concluded from the evidence that the claimant should have been driving at the time of the wrong-side door incident.”

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“It is extremely rare for the Employment Tribunal to find 100% for the claimant and that means that the employer, London Underground , is 100% guilty of unfair dismissal and that reinstatement should be automatic. The fact that we are still fighting for justice for James Masango in light of all the evidence is a shocking indictment on LUL.

“We hoped that we would be able to negotiate reinstatement through the normal channels but LUL have dragged their feet and we now have no option but to launch a public campaign and to begin preparations for a ballot for action of all our train grade members to put right this gross injustice.”

> RMT National News

Thursday, 14th August
Rail union RMT, will hold a mass meeting in Manchester on Thursday 14 August at 2pm as part of its national campaign to end outsourcing on Britain’s railways.
Thursday, 14th August
Bus workers’ union RMT has welcomed the Transport Committee’s report on the state of England’s bus services and backed its call for long-term funding, protection of socially necessary routes and greater support for local authorities.
Tuesday, 12th August
Rail union, RMT warned that the failure of Government and Network Rail to fully act on safety recommendations made following the fatal Carmont rail crash has left rail workers and passengers at continued risk.
Friday, 1st August
Seafarers’ union RMT have highlighted figures from the Fishguard–Rosslare ferry route that prove the case for a mandatory, legally enforceable seafarers’ charter to protect jobs, safety and service standards in the UK ferry industry.
Friday, 1st August
Maritime union, RMT is backing a major event to mark the 200th anniversary of the North Sands Massacre, when five striking seafarers were shot dead by soldiers during an industrial dispute in Sunderland.