The Ticket Collector

‘one’ Railway to strike September 15th and 17th in support of sacked colleague - CALLED OFF

MORE THAN 800 RMT members across ‘One’ railway will strike for 24 hours on Saturday September 15 and again on Monday September 17 in support of a guard sacked following an incident with a violent and abusive fare evader, and against the company’s neglect of staff safety.

Relevant members will also refuse to sell advance tickets for the two strike dates from Thursday September 13.

More than I00 guards, revenue-protection inspectors and retail staff in north Essex have already taken two days of action in defence of Paul Yarwood, and their colleagues in all grades across the company last month voted by more than five to one to join the dispute.

“Our members across ‘One’ have shown their solidarity with Paul and their disgust at the company’s attitude to its own staff’s safety,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“It is astonishing that the company still seems to have its head buried in the sand, not least because of the huge public support that Paul has had from members of the public.

“Our members will be leafletting passengers during the strike to explain that the company’s bizarre stance has left us no option but to strike again, this time right across the company.

“The size of the strike vote should have told ‘One’ everything they need to know about the effect their failure to support their staff is having on the people who have to face the daily danger of threats, abuse and assaults.

“I would like to thank all those who have already called on the company to re-instate Paul Yarwood, and would urge others to contact the company, or to let us have their comments so we can pass them on,” Bob Crow said. ends

Note to editors: In the ballot that closed late last month, RMT members voted by 300 to 59 to strike.

More than 100 guards based at Colchester and Clacton, revenue-protection inspectors based at Colchester and retail members between Chelmsford and Manningtree voted by 83 to one for action and struck on August 18 and 20.

Paul Yarwood, a guard with an exemplary record, was dismissed over an incident at Colchester North on June 7 involving an abusive fare evader who refused to stop smoking, assaulted a platform supervisor and threatened a passenger and other staff.

Tube starting to get back to normal

Several tube lines have started to get back to normal, following the strikes of recent days. However some lines are still closed. TfL state that they will try and have all lines back to normal towards the end of day start of tomorrow.

For the latest real-time information please go to http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/default.html

Tube Strike goes ahead. Services not expected back to normal till Friday Morning

Due to industrial action by RMT members of Metronet, services are not expected to return to normal until Friday morning. The Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines are scheduled to run as normal. Except on the Piccadilly Line between Acton Town and Uxbridge.

The London Underground system will be very busy and at times stations may be closed due to overcrowding. No other London Underground lines are likely to be running.

If possible, please complete your journey by using alternative routes including DLR, National Rail and bus services.

Tube strike travel chaos expected

The RMT union has said more than 2,300 members will walk out at 1800 BST on Monday 3rd September.

The RMT predicts the Tube network will “grind to a halt” as a result of the industrial action.

A spokesman said services would still run, but any problems with maintenance of trains, tracks or signalling would not be repaired.
“If anything goes wrong, it will stay wrong,” the spokesman said.

Tube managers warned that if the strike goes ahead, services on the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines would start being reduced from about 1630 BST Tube managers warned that if the strike goes ahead, services on the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines would start being reduced from about 1630 BST