RMT to strike on Victoria Line this week over door-opening safety issues and bullying of staff

Publication Date: April 20 2009

RMT train operators working out of the Seven Sisters depot, covering the Victoria Line, will be on strike from 21.00 hours Tuesday 21 April to 20.59 hours Wednesday 22 April in a dispute over the failure to install Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment and the continuing bullying, harassment and victimization of RMT members.

RMT members voted overwhelmingly for the 24 hours of action on four key areas of dispute:

• The failure to install the Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment on the Victoria Line which is operational on all other lines on the Underground.
• A demand for the reinstatement of sacked train driver Carl Campbell.
• An end to management misuse of attendance and disciplinary procedures.
• An end to the victimisation of  RMT activist Glenroy Watson

"There can be no excuse for the failure to install Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment. It is operational on all other sections of the Underground and this dangerous penny-pinching on the Victoria Line puts both our members and the general public at risk," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

 "There is a culture of bullying and harassment of our members and representatives on the Victoria Line which is reflected in the sacking of Carl Campbell and the continued victimisation of Glenroy Watson and we are determined to put a stop to it.

"RMT remains available for talks  and we hope that management will see sense and take the necessary steps to resolve this dispute," Bob Crow said.

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