From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3245257.stm:
-----------------
London Underground (LU) workers from one Tube line are to go on a 24-hour
strike in protest at the sacking of a union activist. The man was seen
coming out of a squash club while on sick leave. The Rail Maritime and
Transport union (RMT) claim he had medical proof saying sporting activity
was part of his recovery programme.

About 100 RMT members who work on the Hammersmith and City Line, used by
55,000 people a day, will now walk out at 2130 GMT on 13 November. Bob
Crow, the union's general secretary, said: "This is a clear case of
victimisation of an RMT member making every effort to get back to work
after sustaining a serious injury."

A spokeswoman for London Underground said: "Playing competitive squash is
incompatible with the reasons this employee gave us for taking sick leave."
--------------------

If the union believe that the dismissal was unfair, they should take the
case to an industrial tribunal. Bob Crow's comment about victimisation
rings hollow when his response is to victimise the travelling public.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

"Richard J." wrote in
:

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3245257.stm:
-----------------
London Underground (LU) workers from one Tube line are to go on a
24-hour strike in protest at the sacking of a union activist. The man
was seen coming out of a squash club while on sick leave. The Rail
Maritime and Transport union (RMT) claim he had medical proof saying
sporting activity was part of his recovery programme.

About 100 RMT members who work on the Hammersmith and City Line, used
by 55,000 people a day, will now walk out at 2130 GMT on 13 November.
Bob Crow, the union's general secretary, said: "This is a clear case
of victimisation of an RMT member making every effort to get back to
work after sustaining a serious injury."

A spokeswoman for London Underground said: "Playing competitive squash
is incompatible with the reasons this employee gave us for taking sick
leave." --------------------

If the union believe that the dismissal was unfair, they should take
the case to an industrial tribunal. Bob Crow's comment about
victimisation rings hollow when his response is to victimise the
travelling public.

I'm sure the medical insurance company had something to with seeing the
driver coming out of the squash club.

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 22:15:23 +0000, woutster
wrote:

"Richard J." wrote in
:

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3245257.stm:
-----------------
London Underground (LU) workers from one Tube line are to go on a
24-hour strike in protest at the sacking of a union activist. The man
was seen coming out of a squash club while on sick leave. The Rail
Maritime and Transport union (RMT) claim he had medical proof saying
sporting activity was part of his recovery programme.

About 100 RMT members who work on the Hammersmith and City Line, used
by 55,000 people a day, will now walk out at 2130 GMT on 13 November.
Bob Crow, the union's general secretary, said: "This is a clear case
of victimisation of an RMT member making every effort to get back to
work after sustaining a serious injury."

A spokeswoman for London Underground said: "Playing competitive squash
is incompatible with the reasons this employee gave us for taking sick
leave." --------------------

If the union believe that the dismissal was unfair, they should take
the case to an industrial tribunal. Bob Crow's comment about
victimisation rings hollow when his response is to victimise the
travelling public.

I'm sure the medical insurance company had something to with seeing the
driver coming out of the squash club.

I don't care what anyone says, doctors note or not, there is no way
someone can be well enough to play squash but be unable to push a few
buttons on a train, or perform lesser duties for a while if necessary.

The union want to watch themselves on this one unless they are
deliberately out to lose what little credibility they've got left with
the public.

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 00:17:55 +0000, "I@n" -uk wrote:

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 22:15:23 +0000, woutster
wrote:

"Richard J." wrote in
:

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3245257.stm:
-----------------
London Underground (LU) workers from one Tube line are to go on a
24-hour strike in protest at the sacking of a union activist. The man
was seen coming out of a squash club while on sick leave. The Rail
Maritime and Transport union (RMT) claim he had medical proof saying
sporting activity was part of his recovery programme.

About 100 RMT members who work on the Hammersmith and City Line, used
by 55,000 people a day, will now walk out at 2130 GMT on 13 November.
Bob Crow, the union's general secretary, said: "This is a clear case
of victimisation of an RMT member making every effort to get back to
work after sustaining a serious injury."

A spokeswoman for London Underground said: "Playing competitive squash
is incompatible with the reasons this employee gave us for taking sick
leave." --------------------

If the union believe that the dismissal was unfair, they should take
the case to an industrial tribunal. Bob Crow's comment about
victimisation rings hollow when his response is to victimise the
travelling public.

I'm sure the medical insurance company had something to with seeing the
driver coming out of the squash club.

I don't care what anyone says, doctors note or not, there is no way
someone can be well enough to play squash but be unable to push a few
buttons on a train, or perform lesser duties for a while if necessary.

Totally agree... I work, but I wouldn't survive 10 minutes in a
squash court! In the end I think (IMHO as a member of the public) it
comes down the sacked party being a union activist, and the RMT trying
to protect their interests. Given what information has been publicly
available, it sounds like this person could have worked (in some
form), they have basically been cheating (defrauding.. if sick pay is
involved etc) LU.. and hence us the fee paying passengers.

The union want to watch themselves on this one unless they are
deliberately out to lose what little credibility they've got left with
the public.

Little? Talking to friends, the general opinion is they have no
credibility on this issue

"I@n" -uk wrote the following in:


I don't care what anyone says, doctors note or not, there is no
way someone can be well enough to play squash but be unable to
push a few buttons on a train, or perform lesser duties for a
while if necessary.

The union want to watch themselves on this one unless they are
deliberately out to lose what little credibility they've got left
with the public.

I don't think anyone can really comment without knowing what's meant to
have been wrong with this person and what is supposed to help them get
better.

--
message by Robin May, but you can call me Mr Smith.
Hello. I'm one of those "roaring fascists of the left wing".

Then and than are different words!

On 7 Nov 2003 00:50:06 GMT, Robin May
wrote:

"I@n" -uk wrote the following in:


I don't care what anyone says, doctors note or not, there is no
way someone can be well enough to play squash but be unable to
push a few buttons on a train, or perform lesser duties for a
while if necessary.

The union want to watch themselves on this one unless they are
deliberately out to lose what little credibility they've got left
with the public.

I don't think anyone can really comment without knowing what's meant to
have been wrong with this person and what is supposed to help them get
better.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/a...ing%20Standard

quote:

"snip

"RMT union leaders justified the action of sacked driver Chris
Barrett, saying the squash was to help speed his recovery from an
ankle injury."

snip

He had been off sick with the injury for several months. When
confronted by the Evening Standard, he said: "I was not playing
squash. I was just exercising my ankle on a squash court."

snip"

Sorry but you don't book a squash court just to exercise and not play
squash!

Robin May wrote:
"I@n" -uk wrote the following in:


I don't care what anyone says, doctors note or not, there is no
way someone can be well enough to play squash but be unable to
push a few buttons on a train, or perform lesser duties for a
while if necessary.

The union want to watch themselves on this one unless they are
deliberately out to lose what little credibility they've got left
with the public.

I don't think anyone can really comment without knowing what's meant
to have been wrong with this person and what is supposed to help them
get better.

Yes, we can't take an informed view on the medical issue, but we *can*
comment on the union's decision to strike. They have accused LU of not
following the proper process, but they are guilty of that too. What do
they industrial tribunals are for? Or perhaps they recognise that their
case is so weak that it would get thrown out?
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

"Mark Blewett" wrote in message
...

He had been off sick with the injury for several
months. When confronted by the Evening
Standard, he said: "I was not playing squash.
I was just exercising my ankle on a squash court."

snip"

Sorry but you don't book a squash court just to
exercise and not play squash!

I agree. He hasn't got a leg to stand on.

As for the union being concerned that they might lose credibility with the
public, I can't think of any reason for the union to care about that. After
all, it's only the station assistants who get spat at, not Bob Crowe.

--
John Rowland - Spamtrapped
Transport Plans for the London Area, updated 2001
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...69/tpftla.html
A man's vehicle is a symbol of his manhood.
That's why my vehicle's the Piccadilly Line -
It's the size of a county and it comes every two and a half minutes

In article , John Rowland
writes
He hasn't got a leg to stand on.

LOL!!!!
--
Andrew
Electronic communications can be altered and therefore the integrity of this
communication can not be guaranteed.
Views expressed in this communication are those of the author and not
associations or companies I am involved with.

Robin May writes:

I don't think anyone can really comment without knowing what's meant to
have been wrong with this person and what is supposed to help them get
better.

He had an ankle injury, it's been widely reported already. Squash is
not light exercise, escecially for ankles and knees. The guy was
taking advantage of the system and got caught. LUL followed normal
disciplinary procedure and the union has no case for a strike. If LUL
doesn't take legal action against the union for organising an illegal
strike, the passengers should.