The tribunal results have proved that what the rmt was talking about his
sacking over his union activities was a load of rubbish. That was the only
real way that they could try and persuade their members to vote for strike
action (those that did bother to vote at all). They know they wouldn't
have got the support otherwise. After repeated mentioning of being sacked
because of his union activities on virtually every communication the rmt
have made, they have now conveniently omitted this from their latest
communication
http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/node/2256
and now just insist that he was unfairly sacked.

It's all politics, and the passengers and union members are the pawns

The tribunal basically said that LU were right to find him guilty of
abusive behaviour and that the sacking was nothing to do with his union
activities. What they have don is suggested that the sentence for his
abusive behaviour may have been too harsh.

So, nothing there to say "give him his job back"

I suppose it will depend whether the rmt agree that his behaviour was
abusive, given that the tribunal have more or less confirmed that it was.
If they do agree that, then the rmt cannot expect for him to get his job
back unpunished, as it were. If LU decide that his punishment is to be
taken off the trains and sent to the stations at reduced pay, will that
satisfy the rmt, or will they still demand he gets his original job back
full stop?

If so, I can't see that that will happen, although you never know. I
shouldn't count the strikes as being off yet!

Roger

*From:* "Mizter T"
*Date:* Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:43:11 +0100

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13879563

---quote---
London Tube strike driver unfairly dismissed, tribunal rules

A London Underground driver at the centre of a series of Tube
strikes has won his claim for unfair dismissal, his union has
revealed.

LU said Arwyn Thomas was sacked for unacceptable behaviour towards
colleagues.

But the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) claimed he was
dismissed because of his union role.

A series of walkouts has been staged this year. It is unclear if
the remaining strikes will go ahead.
[...continues...]
---/quote---


This comes after driver Eamonn Lynch also winning his claim for
unfair dismissal in early May:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13306339

Obviously the RMT have a wider anti-cuts agenda, but LU management
don't seem to be coming out of this particularly well - so long for
the days of relative harmony at LU under Tim O'Toole. (Of course it
was a bit of a different world back then - for a start, the kitty
still jangled when shaken.)