Train bosses forced to back down

Submitted by martin on 16 May, 2003 - 9:16

An Employment Tribunal has forced South West Trains to give train driver Greg Tucker his old job back, two years after demoting him to ticket inspector on a trumped-up speeding charge. The company has also been forced to repay all Greg's lost earnings and a substantial additional award.

Greg's "offence" was a minor speeding violation, which posed no material threat to anybody. But the reason Greg was targeted was because he is a trade union activist and campaigning socialist.

The Tribunal said that management witnesses were unbelievable, that their evidence was untrue and that they gave testimony with "no regard for the truth".

Bob Crow, RMT's general secretary, has accused rail companies of deliberately picking off union representatives. More tribunal cases are under way against a number of operators, including Arriva Trains Northern and London Underground.

Greg Tucker said: "I feel angry that I have suffered two years of stress and lost two years not doing the job I was employed to do. The tribunal said there was a concerted move to remove me from my position because of my trade union activities. I was totally vindicated. South West Trains have been forced to accept I was wronged."

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