TUBE DRIVER CASE THROWN OUT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2019 :: RMTnews 6 R MT suspended indefinite industrial action earlier this month by drivers on four key underground lines after securing a massive victory over the issue of excessive track noise. Drivers on Jubilee, Central, Victoria and Northern Lines were scheduled to take industrial action short of a strike by driving trains in manual mode at an appropriate reduced speed in Pandrol Vanguard areas to mitigate the creation of excessive noise and to alleviate the distraction, discomfort and anxiety caused in the affected areas. Travel journalist Simon Calder recorded noise levels of over 100 decibels on parts of the network effected. That action is now suspended after tube bosses agreed to union demands on the following: • The company themselves will introduce speed restrictions in multiple locations from Friday to mitigate the noise impact • There will be a programme of increased rail grinding to bring down noise, monitored by RMT health and safety reps in a preventative manner with an agreed formula and level of noise • The company has made available £10 million to cover the remedial works • Longer term, Pandrol Vanguard will be removed from all locations The union has made it clear that although the action is suspended the dispute remains on and health and safety reps will remain vigilant as the agreed programme is rolled out by the company. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was a massive victory for the union, members and for RMT’s strategy of declaring appropriate industrial action to leverage negotiations with the employer. “Be clear about this, if we hadn’t balloted and declared a programme of action from midnight, we would not have secured this eleventh hour agreement with London Underground. “I want to pay tribute to RMT’s tube drivers and our health and safety reps and negotiators who have secured this major victory for militant trade unionism. The action is suspended but the dispute remains on and we remain vigilant as the agreed programme is rolled out,” he said. R MT tube drivers on the Jubilee Line are celebrating after an unfair gross misconduct disciplinary case against a colleague was thrown out. RMT train driver Mulu Tumzghi faced a serious charge which could have led to the termination of his employment following an incident in Neasden depot. RMT quickly went into dispute and activists across London Underground fought the case to defend him from this management attack. The case has now been completed by London Underground which was forced to conclude that the member should face no charges. RMT has now ensured that now the correct process has been followed and the member has been moved from a part time to a full-time position. Mulu is back at work as a full-time train driver because he is an RMT member, the train driver’s union with over 1,500 drivers on the Underground. He should never have faced a disciplinary charge: this was a safety incident where the correct and well-established process was for management to instigate a plan to assist the driver with any necessary training requirements and ensure that no punitive action was taken. However, even though Mulu was honest about what happened and followed instructions as soon as he was aware of his error, LUL management sent him to a gross misconduct CDI, effectively attempting to rewrite the policy on how safety incidents are dealt with which had implications for all drivers on LUL. RMT regional organiser John Leach said that because of the union's swift decision to enter into a dispute over the way Mulu was treated, the expert representation he had at his disciplinary and the support of Jubilee Line RMT reps, activists and colleagues that he is now back in work. “This RMT victory is not just a win for Mulu but for all tube drivers. Had London Underground management been successful in the attempt to dismiss this member at a disciplinary for a safety incident of this type it would have set a dangerous precedent, enabling management to sack any of us in similar circumstances. “It is cases such as this which highlight that the RMT union is ready to fight for Tube driver members. Being in the RMT means knowing we have like- minded people on our side fighting to ensure our jobs are protected and that we won't be faced with unfair and unnecessary disciplinary action without somebody to help fight our corner. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that drivers on the Jubilee Line at Stratford, North Greenwich and Wembley depots in particular should be proud of this result and confident that they are protected and defended as members of the train drivers' union: RMT. “This is a fantastic victory that highlights that the RMT is the union for train drivers. We are always ready to fight for members who are wronged and this case shows that we get the results,” he said. NOISY TUBE VICTORY TUBE DRIVER CASE THROWN OUT