LEGAL BUS VICTORY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2016 :: RMTnews 24 The RMT branch secretary’s conference met in Gloucester this year and delegates discussed the Way Forward programme and held successful educational sessions. RMT education officer Andy Gilchrist and David Coulthard of Thomson Solicitors delivered two excellent sessions. Gloucester branch administered a good weekend unfortunately branch secretary Tim Wilkinson was unable to attend due to health problems and conference wished him a speedy recovery. This year we were extremely honoured to have the general secretary and the assistant general secretary in attendance and both delivered inspiring speeches but left nobody thinking it was going to an easy ride going forward as DOO was R MT members Laszlo Doyne and Clive Travers were successful in their Employment Tribunal claims for automatic unfair dismissal, breach of contract and wrongful dismissal against London General Transport Services Limited trading as Go Ahead. Mr Travers had been employed as a bus driver for seven years and Mr Doyne for 19 years. However, they were summarily dismissed in March 2015 for allegedly bringing the company into disrepute. They, along with two other colleagues, gave evidence in January 2015 in support of a former colleague and bus driver who was standing trial for reckless and dangerous driving in the Bexley Magistrates’ Court. Their ex-colleague had been involved in an accident in September 2013 involving a New Route Master Bus that he had been driving, during which he said he had experienced brake failure whilst an expert’s report suggested that human factors caused the accident. They gave evidence about their personal experiences with the Boris Bus including their experience of steering and braking faults. The ex-colleague was subsequently acquitted of the offences. In dismissing the members, Go Ahead claimed that the evidence they gave in court regarding brakes and steering could not be substantiated and as such they had been guilty of gross misconduct. RMT supported them with an application for interim relief and claims for unfair dismissal, breach of contract and wrongful dismissal. It was argued that it was automatically unfair to dismiss them because their reports and evidence regarding faults they had experienced with the NRM were protected disclosures. Following a five day hearing, the judge decided that the members had made protected disclosures regarding the health and safety of the travelling public and that the disclosures were in the public interest. The disclosures included reports of steering faults, steering locking, electrical faults and compressor issues linked to LEGAL BUS VICTORY BRANCH SECRETARIES MEET RMT conference secretary Jim Philp reports on a successful meeting of union branch secretaries