Circular No. IR/222/09

RMT is to ballot all Bakerloo Line Drivers for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike in support of a dismissed colleague, Kevin Dobinson. Ballot papers will dispatched direct to members’ homes on 30th July 2009 with the closing date for returns being Wednesday 12th August 2009.

It seem that our Train Operator members on the Bakerloo are furious at Kevin’s dismissal and over 160 of them have signed a petition telling management exactly that. Kevin was sacked for a SPAD that he owned up to. It was an aggravated SPAD largely caused by Kevin being preoccupied with personal problems. Furthermore it was the sort of incident that had occurred before on the Underground yet other people hadn’t been sacked.

But at both the CDI and the appeal hearing management failed to take any of this into consideration. This is a clear injustice and that’s why people are so angry.

I have formally advised management of our intention to ballot in accordance with legislation. But we have at the same time asked management for a Director’s Review and there is every hope that they will see sense and take the opportunity to reinstate Kevin Dobinson without conditions.

Whatever the case I will report further on this matter in due course.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow
GENERAL SECRETARY