Europe

Tube drivers to strike over sacking of colleague

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London Underground drivers have decided to go on strike over the sacking of a coworker.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union voted for strike by 299 votes to 221.

“Our members have voted for industrial action and the union will now consult extensively with our representatives before deciding on our next moves in this dispute,” The Guardian quoted the union’s general secretary, Mick Cash, as saying.
“The union remains available for talks, at Acas if necessary, and as we have already stated we are ready to abide by any decision made at an employment tribunal and cannot understand London Underground’s reluctance to agree to that course of action,” he added.

London Underground had called on union members to vote against strikes. LU insists that the Northern Line driver has been dismissed for failing two random breath alcohol tests.

‘Unfair system’

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union argue that the breath alcohol tests are not fair as they can be affected by diabetes and liver diseases.

“The current system is unfair because it doesn’t offer safeguards to those with disabilities or who are on certain diets,” the BBC reported RMT Regional Organizer John Leach as saying.

“One of LU’s own doctors conceded that type 2 diabetes, liver disease and even fasting can give false positives on hand-held machines,” he added.

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