RMT press releases

RMT on tribunal finding that Arwyn Thomas was unfairly dismissed

“London Underground have asked us to wait for the outcome of Arwyn Thomas’s Employment Tribunal and that body has now found that he was unfairly dismissed.

“Throughout this process LU have said that they would abide by the Tribunal ruling so all that we are now asking them to do is stick to their word and get Arwyn back to work. I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Managing Director to make the necessary arrangements.”

Bob Crow – RMT General Secretary

TUBE UNION RMT today announced strike dates involving all train driver members in the on-going dispute over the victimisation of union activist Arwyn Thomas over his trade union activities and the associated continuing harassment and victimisation of union reps throughout London Underground.

Despite strenuous efforts by RMT, LU have refused to reach an agreement that would reinstate Arwyn Thomas despite his successful appeal for “interim relief” for unfair dismissal at the Employment Tribunal on the grounds of his trade union activities.

LONDON UNDERGROUND has thrown at least £250,000 down the tube trying to defend its indefensible victimisation of train operator Arwyn Thomas, RMT has estimated.

Six-figure legal fees, management time spent preparing for and attending six days of tribunals, including senior managers on £600-plus a day, on top of Arwyn’s salary – paid on the orders of an interim hearing in January – add up at least to the cost of employing 20 modern apprentices for a year, the union says.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today:

Rail union RMT confirmed today that, having pursued a claim with sister union TSSA, they have secured a ground-breaking pay and rewards package offer aimed at taking Network Rail staff through the Olympics:

• £500 additional money for working through the Olympics period
• More than 10% pay increase on the basic over the next two years - 5.2% this year and RPI plus .5% in 2012.
• Agreement of a disputes procedure throughout the Olympics period that means no union member can be dismissed and which recognises the continuing right to withdraw labour.

RMT wants to make it absolutely clear that the victimisation cases of Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas are totally interlinked and that our days of strike action have been announced to secure the reinstatement of both members who have been unfairly sacked for their trade union activities.

We have now won three tribunal rulings in a row proving unfair dismissal and despite bogus reports to the contrary we are seeking an urgent meeting with LUL to discuss a timetable for getting both colleagues back to work and doing the job that they are being paid to do and that's driving tube trains.

FROM RMT PRESS OFFICE

SACKED TUBE DRIVER AT HEART OF DISPUTE WINS EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL CASE FOR UNFAIR DISMISSAL ON GROUNDS OF UNION ACTIVITES

RMT DEMANDS URGENT MEETING WITH LONDON UNDERGROUND TO NOW END VICTIMISATIONS DISPUTE AND AVOID PLUNGING LONDON INTO STRIKE CHAOS

Tube union RMT confirmed today that sacked Bakerloo Line tube driver Eamonn Lynch has won his employment tribunal case for unfair dismissal on the grounds of trade union activities. Eamonn Lynch's is one of two unfair dismissal cases that sparked this weeks announcement of ten days of tube strike action.

With more data out this morning showing that another half a million jobs are under threat, and that family budgets have been slashed by nearly a thousand pounds a year as a result of ConDem cuts, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow has accused the political class, led by Nick Clegg and David Cameron, of setting up this week’s AV referendum vote in a deliberate attempt to divert attention from harsh economic realities.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said,

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it has rejected a proposed five year pay offer from TFL and is launching a campaign for a substantial, above-inflation one year deal that reflects the additional workload placed on staff as a result of the repeated breakdown in services, a large increase in passenger numbers and the knock on effect from a programme of staff reductions.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

FROM RMT PRESS OFFICE

On the day that Boris Johnson announced that he is going to sort the tube out for the Olympics the Mayor has been hit by a massive embarrassment as the entire service on the busy District Line stretch from Earls Court down to Wimbledon is closed this afternoon in advance of rush hour.

TFL are blaming emergency engineering works. An earlier stalled train at Putney Bridge took 80 minutes to de-train due to a shortage of staff.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

TUBE UNION RMT today demanded an urgent review of safety procedures and an assurance that crucial lessons have been learnt after an internal report into the flooding of Charing Cross station by water from the Trafalgar Square fountains two weeks ago revealed that the incident almost ended in disaster.