Morden & Oval branch

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we are appalled that following the agreement we reached with London Underground last week, LU has instructed its lawyers not to discuss re-employing Arwyn Thomas, and instead to discuss only a financial settlement.

This is despite an Employment Tribunal having awarded Arwyn interim relief, finding that he was unfairly dismissed due to his trade union activities and asking LU to reinstate him. The only way to put right the injustice of Arwyn's dismissal is to reverse it, by Arwyn returning to work as a London Underground driver.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note with disappointment and disgust that London Underground's directors' review has upheld the sacking of Arwyn Thomas. This is despite the fact that the Employment Tribunal awarded Arwyn Interim Relief and found that LU had sacked him unfairly due to his trade union activities. It is appalling that LU apparently feels that it is above the law, and that Tribunals does not have the power to compel an employer to re-employ a worker sacked unfairly.

“I am appalled that London Underground are refusing to reinstate Arwyn Thomas and Eamonn Lynch, when the Employment Tribunal has already ruled that their dismissal was discriminatory because of their trade union activities. It is vital that we stand up for our local trade union reps who are in the frontline of protecting workers interests and I fully support the RMT’s political and industrial campaign for justice for Arwyn and Eamonn.”
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Islington North

TO ALL RMT TRAIN OPERATORS AND INSTRUCTOR OPERATORS AT ELEPHANT AND CASTLE AND QUEENS PARK TRAINCREW DEPOTS

Dear Colleagues,

DISMISSAL – EAMONN LYNCH – TRAIN OPERATOR - LUL

I write to you with further clarification in this matter and below you will find the latest General Grades Committee decision: -

RMT's General Grades Committee has taken the following decisions to call further strikes:

Dismissal of Eamonn Lynch

In line with the request of our Bakerloo Line branch, all members at Queen’s Park and Elephant & Castle traincrew depots are instructed not to book on for any duty that commences between 21:00 hours on Sunday 20 February and 20:59 hours on Monday 21 February.

This date to remain confidential until notice is served.

That we seek talks with the employer under the auspices of ACAS with the aim of resolving this dispute.

TUBE UNION RMT today demanded an end to London Undergound’s campaign of bullying and harassment of union activists as the organisation won a second “interim relief” hearing at the Employment Tribunal in Croydon yesterday in the case of sacked Northern Line train operator Arwyn Thomas.

RMT drivers on the Bakerloo line and at the Northern line's Morden depot are today striking against the unjust sackings of workmates Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas. The first photo is of pickets at Eleplant & Castle, the other three of pickets at Morden. To read more information about these sackings, please click on the 'Opposing victimisation' link above.

In two separate disputes, RMT drivers will be striking on the Bakerloo and Northern lines, starting with the night duties on Friday 14 January and continuing all day Saturday.

Please join the picket lines. Your support will be welcome, whatever length of time you can stay. Here are details of Saturday pickets

• Saturday from 04:30, continuing all day - Morden depot (to get there by bus, click here)

RMT members on the Bakerloo line and at Morden depot on the Northern line are to strike for 24 hours in two separate disputes about the sacking of colleagues Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas.

RMT's General Grades Committee has taken the following two decisions:

In line with the request of our Morden and Oval branch, all members at Morden traincrew depot are instructed not to book on for any duty that commences between 21:00 hours on Friday 14 January and 20:59 hours on Saturday 15 January.

In two separate disputes, RMT drivers will be striking on the Bakerloo and Northern lines, starting with the night duties tonight (Friday) and continuing all day tomorrow (Saturday).

Please join the picket lines. Your support will be welcome, whatever length of time you can stay.

• Friday evening, from 22:00 - Queen's Park depot (to get there on London Overground, click here)
• Saturday from 04:30, continuing all day - Morden depot (to get there by bus, click here)
• Saturday from 05:00, continuing all day - Elephant & Castle depot (to get there by bus, click here)
• Saturday from 05:00, continuing all day - Queen's Park depot (to get there on London Overground, click here)

IN TWO separate disputes over the victimisation of RMT London Underground activists the union today announced action in support of train operators Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas.

From Bob Crow, General Secretary

I write to all reps on London Underground concerning the case of Arwyn Thomas Train Operator at Morden and a long standing RMT activist who is being disciplined and we believe victimised by LUL.

The RMT received the following message of solidarity from French rail union SUD- RAIL for the the union's campaign to stop the victimisations on the tube:

"French union federation SUD-Rail (SUD for Solidarity, Unity and Democraty) send its full support to RMT activists sacked by London Underground :

- Bakerloo Line driver, Eamon Lynch, RMT health and safety rep,

- Morden driver, Arwyn Thomas, RMT activist.

London Underground must let them work again freely.

Last night our branch agreed to send a message of solidarity to Arwyn Thomas, his branch and the RMT in the fight to get the charges against Arwyn dropped.

This is a clear attack on the rights of trade unionists to organise and be active in the workplace - an attack on one is an attack on us all, whatever union you are in.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do.

And please can you pass on this message to Arwyn and his branch

In solidarity

Monica Gort
Branch Secretary UNITE Clerkenwell and St Pancras Community and Not for Profit branch

This resolution, submitted by Morden & Oval and seconded by Camden 3, was carried unanimously at the October meeting of the Regional Council.

This Regional Council deplores the disciplinary action being taken against Arwyn Thomas, a dedicated and long-serving activist of this union. We fully support the call for industrial action on the Northern Line in support of Arwyn. We also support the campaigns against victimisation of other reps, including Eamonn Lynch and Peter Hartshorn.

This resolution, submitted by Morden & Oval branch and amended by Finsbury Park branch, was passed unanimously by October's Regional Council meeting.

This Regional Council notes that management are pressurising members to sign agreements regarding their attendance performance. This has led to our members who have failed to meet this attendance target level being dismissed.

The Regional Council reaffirms its opposition to management's attendance policy.

The next Morden & Oval branch meeting will take place on Wednesday 11th August from 5.30pm at The Wheatsheaf public house, 2, Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7PG.

It is situated next to Tooting Bec station.

The next Morden & Oval branch meeting will take place on Wednesday 14th July 2010 from 5.30pm at the Wheatsheaf public house, 2, Upper Tooting Road, SW17.

It is situated next to Tooting Bec tube station.

The next Morden & Oval branch meeting will take place on Wednesday 16th June 2010 from 5.30pm at The Wheatsheaf public house, 2, Upper Tooting Road, London SW17.

It is situated next to Tooting Bec tube station.

The next Morden & Oval branch meeting will take place on Wednesday 19th May 2010 from 5.30pm at the Wheatsheaf public house, 2, Upper Tooting Road, London, SW17. It is situated next to Tooting Bec tube station.