Includes London Underground station and revenue staff on the southern half of the Northern Line, plus drivers at Morden depot
Further to my previous correspondence advising you of the result of the ballot, members are congratulated for returning a ‘yes’ vote for strike action and for the excellent support shown by you and your colleagues despite a massive campaign of misinformation and smears mounted by LU and TfL bosses and the media.
Alex McGuigan was sacked following a flawed alcohol test which we believe resulted in a false result. We balloted for industrial action to defend Alex which resulted in a yes vote for strike.
There are lots of ways that you can help Alex get his job back, and help the union ensure that alcohol testing is fair and robust for all of us on London Underground.
There is a meeting at Unity House on Thursday to discuss and plan for action for the reinstatement of Alex McGuigan.
The ballot returned a positive result and it's now our duty to ensure that democratic decision by our members is carried out to the best of our abilities.
Please try and come down to this very important meeting.
Build for action.
Reinstate Alex McGuigan
19/2/2015 at 1600
Unity House
39 Chalton St
London NW1 1JD
Nearest stations; Euston, Kings Cross
In Solidarity
Eamonn Lynch
RMT LT Reg Sec
View and download the poster below
1 - We believe Alex is innocent
Alex has diabetes which we believe has given a false positive in a random breath test he took when booking on for duty. The RMT has seen evidence that this is possible. If the police breath test you and you fail, they take you back to the police station and you are tested again using much more robust equipment. At LUL once you fail a breath test that is it - sacked after 29 years unblemished service.
DISMISSAL – A. MCGUIGAN – TRAIN OPERATOR – MORDEN, LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/08/15, 12th January 2015), the ballot papers for all London Underground Train Operator and Instructor Operator members were posted out on Monday 26th January and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 10th February 2015. If any member has not received their ballot paper, please ask them to call the Freephone Helpline number on 0800 376 3706 as soon as possible so a replacement can be sent.
In this special 'Defend Alex McGuigan' edition
Click 'read more' to view and download this newsletter.
You can do your bit to help by printing this out and distributing amongst colleagues.
The GMB Union's Sussex branch has passed a motion applauding the RMT efforts to secure Alex Mcguigans reinstatement. The branch has also kindly donated towards a strike fund to provide 'practical support in their efforts to win'.
In response RMT London Transport Region Secretary Eamonn Lynch has written to thank the branch for their support. Eamonn said "We really appreciate the support from your branch and the donation is gladly accepted. I know I speak for Alex when I say the support from RMT members and from comrades across the union movement is not only appreciated but a source of inspiration.
Strike action on the Northern Line over the victimisation and sacking of a driver will go ahead from early Monday as planned after ACAS talks broke down last night due to a complete failure of the management side to engage in any serious discussions which could have led to a negotiated settlement.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
"The ACAS talks, which RMT had been calling for with the objective of reaching a fair and just settlement in this case, have broken down due to a total refusal of the management side to engage in any kind of meaningful discussions.
Northern Line tube drivers are to take industrial action on Monday morning (December 1st) to demand the reinstatement of Alex Mcguigan who was sacked as a result of a flawed alcohol test. Alex is a type two diabetic, a condition which can quite often result in a false positive test result for alcohol. This is well documented medically and there is also legal precedent supporting his case. Because of this his test ought to have been followed by a confirmation urine test to ascertain whether his illness had in fact influenced the test, resulting in a false positive.
DISMISSAL – A. MCGUIGAN – TRAIN OPERATOR – MORDEN, LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)
Further to previous Circular No. IR/282/14, 23rd October 2014, the ballot has concluded and the result is as follows:-
Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total Votes Cast… 58
Number Voting ‘Yes’… 45
Number Voting ‘No’… 13
Spoilt Papers… 0