RMT Launches Campaign And Prepares To Ballot In Fight For Justice For Unfairly Dismissed Tube Driver

TUBE UNION RMT today launched a campaign for the reinstatement of tube driver James Masango who, despite winning by 100% an Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, has still not been re-engaged by London Underground.

James Masango’s case exposed an appalling litany of mismanagement which resulted in his Tribunal taking the rare step of finding 100% in his favour with not a single shred of evidence that there was any contributory fault on his part. Reinstatement in light of such an overwhelming verdict on his innocence should be automatic.

James was found to have been returned to driving duties too early after a period of sickness relating to an incident while at work despite the fact that LU’s own occupational health department had issued a memo saying that he should not be returned to driving duties, or be taking safety critical decisions, in light of blood pressure problems directly connected to the earlier incident.

As a consequence of these failures by the management side James was involved in a wrong side door incident and dismissed. In a damning judgment the Employment Tribunal said that:

“No reasonable employer could have concluded from the evidence that the claimant should have been driving at the time of the wrong-side door incident.”

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“It is extremely rare for the Employment Tribunal to find 100% for the claimant and that means that the employer, London Underground , is 100% guilty of unfair dismissal and that reinstatement should be automatic. The fact that we are still fighting for justice for James Masango in light of all the evidence is a shocking indictment on LUL.

“We hoped that we would be able to negotiate reinstatement through the normal channels but LUL have dragged their feet and we now have no option but to launch a public campaign and to begin preparations for a ballot for action of all our train grade members to put right this gross injustice.”

> RMT National News

Wednesday, 13th March
Scotrail workers will be balloted for strike action over Driver Only Operation (DOO) trains, RMT can reveal.
Friday, 8th March
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This report confirms that both passengers and the taxpayer have been victims of the government’s shambolic management of our railways.
Wednesday, 6th March
Maritime union, RMT today remembers the 193 crew and passengers who lost their lives in waters off Zeebrugge on 6th March 1987 when the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized.
Wednesday, 6th March
Responding to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget statement, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:
Tuesday, 5th March
Rail union RMT, has called on Mark Harper to reverse the Avanti train service cuts which will mean there will be no direct train between Shrewsbury and London from June 2024.