Tube Driver At Centre Of Strikes Was Unfairly Sacked

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One of the Tube drivers at the centre of the forthcoming two-week London Underground strikes was unfairly sacked for his union activities.

Eamonn Lynch's dismissal was one of two sacked employees which caused RMT members to plan six 24-hour walkouts. However, an employment tribunal ruled that his dismissal could not be justified.

Transport for London will now be under pressure to reinstate the Bakerloo line driver or face a possible claim for compensation. The RMT said it would suspend the two weekday strikes when Mr Lynch was reinstated.

RMT boss Bob Crow said: "With the clear parallel with Arwyn Thomas's case there is now an urgent need for LU to meet the RMT to set out a plan for a return to work that can avoid plunging London into two blocks of strike action that everyone knows will lead to massive disruption."

London Underground Managing Director Mike Brown called for the union to call off its threatened strikes, as he insisted that the employee had breached safety rules.

Mr Brown said: "While the tribunal has made a finding of unfair dismissal, it has also found that on August 9 2010 Mr Lynch breached an established and significant safety rule and was in part culpable or blameworthy for his actions."

The RMT said around 1,500 Tube drivers will walk out for between nine and 24 hours from Monday May 16 to Friday May 20 and again from Monday June 13 to Friday June 17.