RMT press release, issued today

AROUND 100 RMT Tube station staff at Elephant and Castle, Charing Cross and Lambeth North are to strike for 24 hours from 19:00 tonight to demand the re-instatement of a colleague dismissed after defending himself against a violent assault on New Year's Eve.

Station assistant Jerome Bowes was sacked for defending himself against the assault from a member of the public who had already been involved in a fight on Elephant and Castle station, even though neither the Metropolitan Police nor the British Transport Police deemed that there was anything to arrest him for.

RMT members at the three Bakerloo Line stations, who voted by a margin of nine to one to strike to demand Jerome's re-instatement, will not book on for shifts that commence after 19:00 tonight.

"Jerome Bowes was sacked for defending himself against an attack from behind from someone who had already been involved in a fight on the most volatile night of the year, and that is unacceptable," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"Neither the Met nor the BTP found any cause to arrest Jerome, who was walking away towards a place of safety when he was assaulted, and it beggars belief that LUL has seen fit to dismiss him.

"The message London Underground seems to be sending out is that defending yourself against violent assault is to be regarded as a disciplinary offence, and it is no wonder that our members are angry and disgusted.

"Rather than train up inexperienced office staff in an attempt to undermine our members' strike, LUL should be asking itself why they voted so overwhelmingly to take action and re-instate Jerome Bowes," Bob Crow said.