Tube worker sacked 'after stepping in to stop fare-dodger who punched pregnant colleague in the stomach'

Union bosses furious at the sacking have ordered a strike vote
A commuter accused of fare dodging is said to have attacked staff at London Bridge
Rex
Dick Murray27 February 2017

A member of Tube staff has been sacked after he intervened to help prevent a violent assault by an alleged fare dodger at London Bridge station.

During the incident a pregnant member of the ticket barrier staff is said to have been punched in the stomach. A third member of staff had his glasses broken.

RMT leaders, furious at the sacking and with two member of staff facing disciplinary action, today ordered a strike ballot among all its London Bridge station members.

Union leaders said the passenger turned violent after being challenged on the London Bridge station concourse station, twice punching the staff member who has been dismissed.

It described the sacking as an “appalling miscarriage of justice.”

Tube bosses said they take a “zero tolerance” approach to violence against staff but that they also expected staff to “adhere to acceptable standards of conduct and behaviour” when dealing with members of the public.

During the incident the union said a pregnant member of staff was punched in the stomach and another had his glasses broken.

An appeal into the dismissal is due to be heard this coming Friday.

The RMT said the staff member who initially challenged the alleged fare dodger at the concourse barrier to produce a ticket or Oyster card has been disciplined for what it described as the “ludicrous, trumped-up charge of ‘inciting or provoking an incident’'.’”

It said a third member of staff who defused the incident after being “repeatedly threatened with violence” has also been disciplined.

Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said the staff involved should have been commended for the action rather than being sacked or disciplined.

He said the whole incident has sent out entirely the wrong message to fare-dodgers.

“This is one of the most appalling abuses of the LU disciplinary procedure that RMT has ever come across.

“This was a shocking, violent incident and those that bore the brunt of it should have been supported and commended by the company. Instead they have been sacked or disciplined in what is the most appalling miscarriage of justice.”

He added: “London Underground (LU) should do the decent thing – reinstate our member, lift the disciplinary action and send out the message that fare-dodging and violence will not be tolerated and that staff in the front line will get the support and assistance that they need.”

Phil O'Hare, General Manager for the Jubilee line, said: "We urge the RMT to discuss the matter with us directly. All three employees have the right to appeal against the decisions taken and we have yet to conclude our internal procedures.

"We take a zero tolerance approach to violence against our staff but similarly expect our employees to adhere to acceptable standards of conduct and behaviour when dealing with members of the public."

LU said it had followed “well established disciplinary procedure” regarding the incident. This has included interviewing members of staff and viewing CCTV footage as well as a formal disciplinary meeting with the right to trade union representation.

Appeals dates have been set for two of the three cases, one of which has been heard with and outcome decision to follow.

The RMT said the incident happened on Wednesday 16 November but details were only now emerging through official channels and the disciplinary process.

It is estimated the Tube loses more than £60 million a year in fare dodging – though LU says the figure has come down when compared with the increase in passenger numbers.

Staff are now three times more likely to be assaulted now than 25 years ago even though their numbers have fallen by a third.

Union leaders said the closure of ticket offices across the network by former Mayor Boris Johnson to save cash had led to a “dramatic” increase in assaults on staff.

Ticket staff are now out on station concourses and suffer the brunt of passenger anger when things go wrong, said the TSSA union.

It reported staff being spat at and physically and verbally abused.

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