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