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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2015 :: RMTnews 5 R MT is balloting members on London Midland from Euston to Tring for both strike action and action short of a strike over the victimisation of a long-standing union member Steve Caldwell is a senior member of platform staff at Watford with over 32 years unblemished service and a string of commendations for delivering top quality support to the travelling public and for saving lives. A string of trumped-up charges against Steve, amounting to a sustained campaign of harassment in response to his questioning of safety issues and his level of influence with union colleagues, have been exposed as bogus and have been withdrawn. However Steve has still been punished, despite not a single allegation standing up, by being shifted miles from his regular place of work. To compound that totally unwarranted sanction his appeal against it has been left hanging in mid-air as the manager responsible has disappeared abroad on a cruise. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said that the treatment of RMT activist Steve Caldwell by London Midland was nothing short of shocking. “He was suspended for four months while a string of bogus charges were subjected to flawed processes, including the use of concocted witness statements, and despite the fact that those initial charges have since been withdrawn Steve has still ended up being punished in an action which makes a mockery of the principles of natural justice. “Now, to pile on the harassment, the manager due to a give a verdict on his wholly unwarranted sanction has disappeared on a cruise for a month. “RMT has no choice to ballot London Midland for members for action to defend workplace justice,” he said. AWARDS: Steve Caldwell has received numerous awards and commendations during his 32 years as a rail worker including for saving lives and serving the public. A recent nomination for the London Midland ambassador award said that Steve ‘deserves a big reward for what he does for the company and the team’. LONDON MIDLAND STAFF BALLOT OVER VICTIMISATION