More than 70 workers walked out for 24 hours this morning to demand the re-instatement of three colleagues, including an RMT rep, sacked in spurious circumstances after a row over alleged bullying.

"The case against the three proved to be flimsy, unsubstantiated and consisted mainly of second hand tittle-tattle provided by a consultancy firm employed by Virgin themselves," said RMT general secretary Bob Crow.

"Sadly, this issue is more to do with trumped-up charges, management intimidation and the singling out of a trade union representative than it is to do with natural justice. It's all about reminding people who is boss," Bob Crow added.

Virgin today staffed trains out of Lime Street with managers, some of whom do not possess a food hygiene certificate, acting as chefs and stewards. Among these are the investigating officer from the disciplinary process, the dismissing officer and a Virgin press officer.

ends

See also:

RMT Circular No: IR/096/07

Dear Colleagues,

DISMISSAL FROM SERVICE ON-TRAIN CATERING STAFF - LIVERPOOL LIME STREET

NOTICE OF STRIKE ACTION

On-Train Catering members at Liverpool Lime Street with be taking 24 hour strike action this coming Tuesday 24th April in support of the reinstatement of three colleagues, Karen Kaufman, Jackie Ross and John Murphy, who were dismissed in the most spurious of circumstances. The latter, incidentally, is an RMT Representative

In a ballot for strike action, 20 members voted YES for strike action with 12 voting against. There were no spoiled papers.

The three were dismissed after having been suspended for almost six months while the company put together cases against them. These cases are believed to be flimsy, unsubstantiated and circumstantial in nature, hence the decision to ballot in support of their unconditional reinstatement.

The three had all been charged with gross misconduct in that, in breach of the company's Equal Opportunities and Harassment Policy, they persistently behaved in a bullying and intimidatory manner to other colleagues during 2006.

Sadly, this issue is more to do with trumped up charges, management intimidation and the singling out of a trade union representative (in the case of John Murphy) than it is to do with natural justice. It's all about reminding people who's boss.

Despite us conveying to management just how seriously we viewed the situation, rather than take the opportunity to remedy things, they instead provoked matters further. Knowing full well that members were more than willing to take strike action for their three dismissed colleagues, management could have held an early appeal hearing, made good their mistake by overturning the dismissals and let everybody get on with their lives.

Instead they have deliberately prevaricated and will not convene the appeal hearings until 30th April. Because of the 28 day rule, they know full well that the last day RMT can take strike action is 24th April (the ballot closed on 28th March) and this is the reason why they are refusing to hold the appeals before that date.

This is not a situation that can be tolerated and all On-Train Catering Staff members at Liverpool Lime Street are hereby instructed not to book on for any turns of duty between 00.01 and 23.59 hours on
Tuesday 24th April 2007.

Those of you who are able are asked to give these members maximum support. There is every danger that management will try to undermine the action by coercing staff in other grades or locations to carry out the strikers' duties on that day. While we do not expect anybody to put themselves at risk by refusing a reasonable instruction in the course of their duties, we ask that wherever possible, staff undertake their normal duties only and to not let themselves be used by the employer to undermine the strike.

I will report further as soon as I am able.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow
GENERAL SECRETARY