RMT to ballot Underground staff over fire safety fears

The
Railways Transportation Maritime Workers Unions (RMT) is to ballot London
Underground (LU) staff members for industrial action over safety fears on the
system during the fire service dispute.

The
union claims that LU has failed to assure it that no disciplinary action will
be taken against members who refuse to work during the firefighter’s strikes.

“All
we have asked for is an assurance from Tube employers that there will be no
disciplinary action taken against members who exercise their legal right not to
be put at unacceptable risk in carrying out their duties,” said RMT general
secretary Bob Crow.

“Whether
there is a firefighters’ strike or not our members have rights – as well as
responsibilities – under health and safety law, and the employers are well
aware of them.

“It
is scandalous that Tube bosses have failed to give us that simple assurance,
and we have no alternative but to ballot our members for action,” Crow added.

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Ballot
papers will be despatched to RMT’s 8,000 Tube members next Thursday, November
28, and the ballot will close two weeks later, on December 12.

By Paul Nelson