West London commuters could be in for a tough commute into work next week due to a planned tube strike set to take place in protest at the dismissal of a driver who failed an alcohol test.
A row has ensued after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) claimed London Underground bosses were attempting to sack "effective trade union activists".
The RMT have spoken out in support of the dismissed driver saying that the alcohol test was skewed by his diabetic condition.
However, London Underground has released a statement saying that this is "impossible" as the its industry-leading "fuel cell" breathalyzer equipment is not affected by diabetes only by an individual’s alcohol consumption choices.
Drivers on all London Underground Tube lines were balloted for strike action over the sacking of their colleague.
The RMT sent out a letter to members on January 20, meaning the earliest strike date would be next Tuesday (February 17) and would cause massive disruption to workers.
London Underground has urged RMT members to protect safety on the Tube by voting ‘no’ in what they call the "indefensible alcohol ballot".
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said, in his letter to members: “Management has failed to listen to us and in turn, has failed to listen to the views and wishes of you and your colleagues as well.
“Instead of giving fair consideration to defence or mitigation, the company is determined to sack effective trade union activists.
“This is becoming an issue across the whole of London Transport and must be resisted by all means at our disposal.”
Mr Holness, London Underground’s operations director for the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, said: “Any suggestion of strike action is completely unjustified and we urge all staff to reject this unnecessary ballot.”
A spokesman from London Underground added: "London Underground operates a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol in order to keep customers and staff safe. This policy was created by LU and union partners more than 20 years ago and every employee is briefed on it and the reasons behind it."
Had the train operator taken control of a train, as he intended that day, he would have put his customers’ and colleagues’ lives in danger.
In December, RMT workers held 24-hour strike on the Northern line over the same issue.
