24-hour Tube strike to disrupt passengers
London Underground track workers have voted to hold a one-day strike next Friday after five workers were sacked on suspicion of drinking on the job.
A large quantity of alcohol was found in a cabin at Farringdon station in central London.
Some 480 members of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) union backed strike action by five to one after the Metronet staff members were dismissed.
Metronet is the private engineering firm that maintains two thirds of London Underground.
The employees were sacked after 111 beer and cider cans, plus an empty bottle of brandy, were found in the messroom. Metronet operates a zero-tolerance policy over alcohol at work.
The RMT says Metronet victimised the staff members, insisting there was no link between the individuals and the alcohol.
Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, accused managers of conducting a “witch hunt” against the workers. Fifteen workers were interviewed after the initial discovery.
Mr Crow said: “All of the people who were sacked were tested and they proved negative of alcohol. There is not a shred of evidence that says any of these men were guilty. Management should do the decent thing and stop conducting a witch hunt otherwise there will be serious disruption.”
The union added several staff were singled out as they were pursuing a grievance against a manager.
Large sections of the rail network could grind to a halt as tube drivers say they will down tools if safety- maintenance staff are unavailable for work.
Workers on the District, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, and East London lines will begin the 24-hour stoppage at 06:00GMT on March 12.
It is forecasted 1.4 million travellers could be affected by the stoppage.
