Opposing victimisation

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note that the Employment Tribunal has ruled that London Underground dismissed Arwyn Thomas unfairly. This proves beyond any doubt what this union has asserted all along – that Arwyn’s sacking was a great injustice.

We further note the Tribunal's finding that “no reasonable employer would have taken this action in these circumstances...”

This injustice can only be put right by Arwyn's return to work for London Underground, not by a pay-off. Our reps are not for sale.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from our Bakerloo branch. We are appalled at London Underground’s decision to downgrade our member Jayesh Patel from Train Operator to Customer Service Assistant, causing him a considerable loss of income. This is clearly a very harsh punishment considering the circumstances. This incident shows once again that London Underground treats its staff very differently from its managers, that the company is systematically persecuting RMT reps and activists, and that London Underground managers, emboldened by senior management’s anti-union stance, are out of control.

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

The RMT train grades committee has produced a new RMT up front. Click on the link to download it. Articles follow:

Strike for workplace justice!

The RMT has called all drivers out on strike action next week for the reinstatement of Northern Line driver Arwyn Thomas (see overleaf for details).
Arwyn was sacked because he has for 30 years represented RMT members and has loyally argued the union’s corner in the workplace.
He was sacked because LU have been found out as an aggressive anti trade union employer and are targeting reps and activists to undermine union organisation on the tube.

• London Underground is NOT promising to reinstate Arwyn if he wins his Employment Tribunal
• In fact, LU has explicitly refused to promise this
• When an earlier Tribunal asked LU management to reinstate Arwyn, they refused
• We can not trust LU to act fairly
• LU should resolve this dispute now by arranging Arwyn's return to work
• LU promised to do this last month but then broke their promise
• New strike call has put LU under pressure
• Our reps are not for sale!

• LU is NOT promising to reinstate Arwyn if he wins his Employment Tribunal
• In fact, LU has explicitly refused to promise this
• When an earlier Tribunal asked LU management to reinstate Arwyn, they refused
• We can not trust LU to act fairly
• LU should resolve this dispute now by arranging Arwyn's return to work
• Strike call has put LU under pressure
• Our reps are not for sale!

Today, the RMT delegation met with London Underground at ACAS to try to resolve the dispute about LU's victimisation of Northern line driver Arwyn Thomas.

Unfortunately, management refused point blank to even discuss re-employing Arwyn. Furthermore, they stated that even if the Employment Tribunal found 100% in Arwyn's favour, they still would not guarantee to reinstate him. Therefore, we have no option but to go ahead with our strike action to defend our longstanding rep and activist.

RMT's ballot mandate to hold strikes expires after 20 June, so the law forces us to take action before then. But we are also striking the following week, rather than waiting for the decision of Arwyn's Tribunal. Why?

Although the Tribunal hearings have concluded, we do not know how long we will have to wait for it to publish its decision. The earliest is 27 June; it could be as late as September. Neither Arwyn, nor his union workmates, should have to wait this long for justice.

The RMT train grades committee has produced the latest edtion of RMT up front focussing on the union's campaign to reinstate Arwyn Thomas. Main stories follow:

UNITE FOR ARWYN THOMAS

Once again, London Underground management have proved that they do not deserve our faith or trust. Following a bold programme of industrial action which shook the establishment and kept the copywriters at the Evening Substandard busy for days and caused politicians and commentators to bay for Boris’ blood, an agreement was reached which allowed us to suspend previous action.

Dear colleagues

I am writing to you as your Regional Organiser to appeal to you to get behind the union's decision to strike for the reinstatement of train driver Arwyn Thomas

Arwyn Thomas is a driver at Morden depot who has been victimised for being a very effective trade union representative. Arwyn is a 30-year member of the RMT and during this time has played a key role in organising the union and representing members at all levels including as local representative, branch secretary and executive member of the RMT London Transport Regional Council. Arwyn has had an exemplary record with his employer LUL and has never had any previous disciplinary in his 30 years of service. There is not so much as a local disciplinary for attendance or lateness on his record.