Includes London Underground staff of all grades on the Hammersmith and City Line
At Hammersmith Magistrates Court this morning RMT tube union official Mark Harding was found not guilty of charges brought against him under section 241 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended by Schedules 7 and 17 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 during the last phase of tube strike action.
Mick Cash, RMT Acting General Secretary, said
Please download, print and display the attached pdf
Mark needs our support
Please try to come to the court on Monday June 2
Meet at Hammersmith station(H&C) side at 0900
Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to come and support Mark
MP's call for justice for RMT official Mark Harding as he faces imprisonment under UK anti-union laws
MP's call for justice for RMT official Mark Harding as he faces imprisonment under UK anti-union laws
MPs and trade union leaders have issued a statement calling for London Underground RMT Branch Official Mark Harding to receive a fair trial when he appears in court this Friday.
Defend Mark Harding, drop the charges now, defend the right to picket.
With the strike action on the Tube on hold, it is important not to lose momentum in the campaign to defend Mark. He has been charged under Section 241 of the Trade and Labour Relations Act and could face a prison sentence. Mark was dragged off the picket line at Hammersmith by the police after a strikebreaking staff member got upset at being asked to respect the picket line.
His trial is Friday 23rd May, at City of London Magistrates Court, 1 Queen Victoria Street, EC4N 4XY (nearest Tube Bank/Monument)
Location of RMT picket lines
Bakerloo Branch;
Elephant & Castle – 0500- April 29 & 30
Queens Park – 0455 - April 29 & 30
Central Line West;
White City -0400- 29 & 30 April
West Ruislip – 0400- 29 & 30 April
Central line East;
Loughton - 0445- 29 & 30 April
Hainault- 0445- 29 & 30 April
Leytonstone - 0445- 29 & 30 April
Morden & Oval;
Morden – 0445- 29 & 30 April
Camden No.3;
Golders Green – 0430 – 29 & 30 April
East Finchley – 0430 – 29 & 30 April
High Barnet – 0430 – 29 & 30 April
Pic & Dic west;
Acton & Northfields depots – 0445- 29 & 30 April
Open meeting to build the action
All members welcome
1600 at the Exmouth Arms on Wednesday 23 April
From RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Mick Cash
The following resolution has been received from London Transport Regional Council:
“This Regional Council condemns the arrest by BTP of Mark Harding, the RMT Branch Secretary of Hammersmith & City Branch. Mark was arrested despite only carrying out legitimate trade union activities whilst on the picket line outside his place of work.
Hammersmith & City RMT branch has passed two motions in support of Mark Harding. The branch invites other branches to adopt the same motion should they wish.
The motion
This branch/region (etc) condemns the arrest by BTP of Mark Harding, the RMT Branch Secretary of Hammersmith & City Branch. Mark was arrested despite only carrying out legitimate trade union activities whilst on the picket line outside his place of work.
A meeting is being held to organise the 'Defend Mark Harding campaign. Mark was arrested off of a picket line and held in a cell for 13 hours, before receiving draconian bail conditions following an allegation from an apparent strike breaker.
The meeting will be for RMT members only but we welcome all support for the campaign.
RMT Paddington No.1 branch meeting this afternoon (Friday, 7 February 2014) was attended by 40 RMT members who carried the following resolution unanimously: