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Tube strike 2015: Union bosses call ballot over driver sacked for allegedly failing alcohol breath test | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Commuters across London could face fresh Tube strikes next month after union bosses called for a walkout in protest over a train driver who was sacked for allegedly failing an alcohol breath test. | Commuters across London could face fresh Tube strikes next month after union bosses called for a walkout in protest over a train driver who was sacked for allegedly failing an alcohol breath test. |
The RMT union has called a strike ballot across all Tube lines to begin next Monday, with the result due in on 10 February, the Evening Standard reports. It says a 24-hour walkout could begin as early as Tuesday 17 February. | The RMT union has called a strike ballot across all Tube lines to begin next Monday, with the result due in on 10 February, the Evening Standard reports. It says a 24-hour walkout could begin as early as Tuesday 17 February. |
The strike is in protest over the decision to dismiss a driver when he allegedly failed a random alcohol breath test during an inspection in June before going on duty. | The strike is in protest over the decision to dismiss a driver when he allegedly failed a random alcohol breath test during an inspection in June before going on duty. |
Roughly a third of the 3,200 drivers are represented by RMT, who also staged a 24-hour strike on the Northern line over the issue. | Roughly a third of the 3,200 drivers are represented by RMT, who also staged a 24-hour strike on the Northern line over the issue. |
Nigel Holness, London Underground’s (LU) Operations Director for the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, said it has a zero tolerance policy towards alcohol and said the employee failed the random test twice. | Nigel Holness, London Underground’s (LU) Operations Director for the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, said it has a zero tolerance policy towards alcohol and said the employee failed the random test twice. |
“He subsequently conceded that he had consumed alcohol prior to his shift. Had he taken control of a train as he intended that day, the individual’s choice to consume alcohol prior to commencing work would have put his customers’ and colleagues’ lives in danger. | “He subsequently conceded that he had consumed alcohol prior to his shift. Had he taken control of a train as he intended that day, the individual’s choice to consume alcohol prior to commencing work would have put his customers’ and colleagues’ lives in danger. |
“Any suggestion of strike action is, therefore, completely unjustified and we urge all staff to reject this unnecessary ballot.” | “Any suggestion of strike action is, therefore, completely unjustified and we urge all staff to reject this unnecessary ballot.” |
The Independent has contacted RMT for comment. | The Independent has contacted RMT for comment. |
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