Central Line to go on strike 21/22 December

[Gooner18]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engla...be-strikes&link_location=live-reporting-story

Link from a BBC website , seems that a driver failed a drug test before a shift , surely there is no case to answer IF that is all it’s about ?

The union accused London Underground of "refusing to lift a finger" to resolve a series of issues, claiming not enough drivers were employed and a union member had been victimised.

London Underground's Nick Dent described the strikes as "unjustified".

He added: "They are demanding the reinstatement of a driver who was sacked for failing a drugs test, something for which we have zero tolerance."

What’s everyone’s thoughts / opinions

 

[noddingdonkey]

I have to assume there is more to this than has been reported? I'm surprised that the union is going for strike action rather than a tribuneral if they believe that there is some irregularity of process etc in how this individual has been treated.

 

[TRAX]

Yeah obviously more has happened ? I can’t see drivers doing that if there really was a drug-related issue with the suspended driver ?

 

[357]

Attached is the RMT leaflet about the drug incident. It explains the situation pretty well.

 

[bionic]

There's always more to this than meets the eye. Industrial relations on the underground have been diabolical for as long as I can remember. The media like to paint it as lazy drivers delighting in causing "misery" and "chaos" for passengers when the reality is going on strike is not a pleasant business: contrary to what many believe you don't get paid when you are on strike. Union "bosses" don't call strikes... members on the ground vote for them. Feelings run high among colleagues who hold different opinions about the strike and who may or may not respect or break the strike. It's horrible. The fact that there are so many strikes on LU speaks volumes for the state of industrial relations there. People would clearly not be going on strike for someone who came in drunk or on drugs. There is obviously far more to this story than the media see fit to report. It's not in their interest to give the union members full side of the story.

 

[jon0844]

Attached is the RMT leaflet about the drug incident. It explains the situation pretty well.

The RMT is never good at the best of times at getting its message across, but it really should be countering the chatter on social media by attaching images of that PDF. I, like I expect 99% of the general public, had no idea what the real situation was as I - like everyone else - can only read what has been written. Of course I was thinking 'there has to be more to this' but that's not enough; the RMT needs to be making sure to let people know.

 

[bramling]

Industrial relations on the underground have been diabolical for as long as I can remember.

And if anything that's an understatement! The quality of management is absolutely atrocious in places.

 

[ijmad]

I was appalled at the RMT before I read the attached document. Now I am appalled at LU management. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between, but it's amazing what a biased picture can be built up when one side controls the narrative. RMT should really represent themselves better in the media.

 

[deltic]

Given the argument set out by the RMT in the leaflet why werent these points made to (or covered by) the BBC rather than generic comments about not enough drivers employed etc. I agree that the RMT is poor at getting their message across to the media.

 

[jon0844]

The RMT is terrible at representing itself, with most press releases just a cut and paste of the 'evil private companies, nationalise it now'.

Obviously a little bit harder when it comes to LU and TfL services.

 

[philthetube]

There's always more to this than meets the eye. Industrial relations on the underground have been diabolical for as long as I can remember. The media like to paint it as lazy drivers delighting in causing "misery" and "chaos" for passengers when the reality is going on strike is not a pleasant business: contrary to what many believe you don't get paid when you are on strike. Union "bosses" don't call strikes... members on the ground vote for them. Feelings run high among colleagues who hold different opinions about the strike and who may or may not respect or break the strike. It's horrible. The fact that there are so many strikes on LU speaks volumes for the state of industrial relations there. People would clearly not be going on strike for someone who came in drunk or on drugs. There is obviously far more to this story than the media see fit to report. It's not in their interest to give the union members full side of the story.

Terrible reporting by the standard, no efforts made to find both sides of the story, I can't see why the Standard should be biased, after all it would be a huge coup for them to discover that this dispute was caused/engineered by LU acting incorrectly or even dishonestly.

 

[Railguy1]

Can the individual take LU to court over the claims a signature was forged and unfair dismissal?

 

[bionic]

Can the individual take LU to court over the claims a signature was forged and unfair dismissal?

Yes, but the anti-worker, anti-trade union laws in this country mean that even if you win a claim for unfair dismissal they don't have to give you your job back.

 

[Chrism20]

As someone who works in (Non transport) HR if the unions version of events are anywhere near accurate it is very concerning.

It should be standard procedure for any evidence to be shared at the investigation stage and at the disciplinary meetings whilst it is stunning if the person hearing the appeal is not up to speed with the tolerance levels etc.

One thing that did jump out on the RMT newsletter/bulletin was the couple of references to managers not liking people which could obviously lead to people thinking there is more to this than has been reported.

If a directors review has been refused the only option remaining is to take it to a tribunal and the clock is ticking on that option.

 

[Deerfold]

Terrible reporting by the standard, no efforts made to find both sides of the story, I can't see why the Standard should be biased, after all it would be a huge coup for them to discover that this dispute was caused/engineered by LU acting incorrectly or even dishonestly.

Hmm, Standard (Editor: G Osborne) discovers LU management dreadful following cost cutting due to removal of London's Transport Grant by G Osborne. Not sure that's going to run.

 

[deltic]

Hmm, Standard (Editor: G Osborne) discovers LU management dreadful following cost cutting due to removal of London's Transport Grant by G Osborne. Not sure that's going to run.

LU management has not had a very good reputation for a long time - rather Standard is never going to take a pro-union line

 

[Katerina]

I never knew the real reason for the strike as the media 'as usual' didn't report the full story. It's about time they did to give us more faith in them. I was inconvenienced due to strike action as thousands of others who travel on the central line. Nothing like the inconvenience this guy has had to tolerate because of stubborn rail bosses. I hope he gets the chance to defend himself with a neutral panel of judges.

 

[greyman42]

Is this strike still on?

 

[Jimini]

Is this strike still on?

https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tube-strike?intcmp=35779

"A strike is planned on the Central and Waterloo & City lines. If it goes ahead, we expect that there will be no Central and Waterloo & City line service from approx. 21:00 Friday 21 December and all day Saturday 22 December. Services on the Central line will resume from approx. midnight on Saturday 22 December for the Night Tube. Waterloo & City line services will resume on Monday 24 December."

Yep, for now. Guessing there'll be further attempts at talks next week though.

 

[Dstock7080]

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-suspends-central-line-action/

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it has suspended strike action over a sacked driver on the Central Line – due to start tomorrow evening – after the company waited ten months and left it right up to the wire before submitting important new evidence into the talks process. The company's brinkmanship means that the line has suffered ten months of disruption and discontent as a result of their mismanagement of a highly sensitive case.

 

[greyman42]

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-suspends-central-line-action/

So has the drivers case been resolved, and if so what was the result, or is it still ongoing?