Tube drivers go on strike in defence of colleague caught 'drunk at the wheel' twice

[butt2089]

[QUOTE][B]Drivers on London Underground have voted to strike over the sacking of a colleague.[/B]

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union backed industrial action by 299 votes to 221.

General secretary Mick Cash said: "Our members have voted for industrial action and the union will now consult extensively with our representatives before deciding on our next moves in this dispute.

"The union remains available for talks, at Acas if necessary, and as we have already stated we are ready to abide by any decision made at an Employment Tribunal and cannot understand London Underground's reluctance to agree to that course of action."

LU had urged union members to vote against strikes, insisting they had dismissed the Northern Line driver for failing two random breath alcohol tests, adding that it operates a zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol.

...

"You wouldn't let someone who had been drinking alcohol drive your family in a car, and we don't let people who have been drinking alcohol drive people's families in Tube trains."[/QUOTE]

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11403238/Tube-drivers-go-on-strike-in-defence-of-colleague-caught-drunk-at-the-wheel-twice.html]Telegraph source[/url]

[Rapscallion92]

Well fuck these shit heads, they might have been justified before but the guys operating several tons of fast moving machine, he should be sober as a fucking judge.

[Fetret]

The article is very light on details with regards to why the strike is happening. Is it an automatic reaction to dismissal, was there wrongdoing during the investigation etc...? But there is no way you can justify drinking while operating a fucking train. If you say it is already on tracks and pretty automated, you open the doors for driverless, automated tube system.

[catbarf]

I did some reading, and another article says:

[quote]A row has ensued after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) claimed London Underground bosses were attempting to sack "effective trade union activists".

The RMT have spoken out in support of the dismissed driver saying that the alcohol test was skewed by his diabetic condition.

However, London Underground has released a statement saying that this is "impossible" as the its industry-leading "fuel cell" breathalyzer equipment is not affected by diabetes only by an individual’s alcohol consumption choices.[/quote]

and also:

[quote]RMT general secretary Mick Cash said, in his letter to members: “Management has failed to listen to us and in turn, has failed to listen to the views and wishes of you and your colleagues as well.

“Instead of giving fair consideration to defence or mitigation, the company is determined to sack effective trade union activists.

“This is becoming an issue across the whole of London Transport and must be resisted by all means at our disposal.”[/quote]

[url]http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/london-tube-strike-more-travel-8608053[/url]

So it seems the issues are that the guy was diabetic and the RMT says that would affect the test, and also that the guy was apparently a union activist so it seems awfully coincidental that he's suddenly getting fired without being able to defend himself. The union also feels snubbed because they are supposed to be consulted before disciplinary action is taken.