• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Calls to abandon strikes as Tube driver wins unfair dismissal claim

June 22, 2011 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

A Tube driver at the centre of a dispute between London Underground and the RMT union has won his Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal.

The Tribunal has ruled that Arwyn Thomas was unfairly dismissed by LU because managers failed to explore other forms of action when disciplining him over what LU calls “unacceptable behaviour towards colleagues”.

The RMT has claimed Mr Thomas was sacked because of his union activities.

Speaking after the tribunal’s verdict was announced, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “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.”

Mr Crow said he was seeking “an urgent meeting” with Tube bosses.

On Saturday RMT members held a strike in support of calls to re-instate Mr Thomas and further strikes are planned for next week.

LU Managing Director Mike Brown has urged the RMT “to acknowledge” that Mr Thomas was not sacked because of his union work and to suspend the planned strikes.

Mr Brown said:“The employment tribunal has today ruled that Mr Thomas should have been disciplined for his actions and that his dismissal was in no way due to his activities as a union member.

“This is entirely contrary to the claims made by the RMT leadership in order to justify their strike action. The tribunal has also found that he was 50 per cent blameworthy for his dismissal, and it has not called for his re-employment.”

Brown added: “However, we recognise that despite these factors, the tribunal has found that the sanction used in Mr Thomas’ case was too high. We will therefore now be considering the findings in detail. We would urge the RMT leadership to acknowledge that their claims of union victimisation were false and to suspend their threatened strike action.”

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, has called on Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London to improve relations with Tube unions.

Pidgeon commented: “London Underground have previously said that if the tribunal cleared Mr Thomas he would be re-instated. I hope that LU bosses will acknowledge the Tribunal’s findings and that the RMT will also call off the further strike action they have planned so London can go about its normal business.”

“It is now time that Mayor and TfL looked to improve industrial relations. We can’t go on like this.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.