Only three non-members came into work on Sunday/Monday causing the Management to cover stations with th RCi's, DSM's and office staff which showed great support for our sacked colleague Jerome Bowes.

On Mondays picket at around 0630 H&S rep Joe Thompson was assaulted by a man shouting racist abuse at other people on the picket line, he then turned to Me raising his fists in an aggressive manner but as I backed away the man punched Joe in the face causing a split lip and bloody nose. Joe quoted later that "I was afraid to defend myself as the way Jerome was sacked, I didn't want that to happen to me".

Metropolitain police arrested the man but later released him telling Joe that the man had not been in trouble with the police for the last three years and had mental health problems so a caution was all they could give him.

If he has mental health problems and has become violent surely he should be in proper care, but I digress this situation highlights the sh*t our members put up with every day and highlighted the reason we were striking. It will be interesting to see what our GSM does with regards to getting the man who assaulted Joe banned from the station. Will he do it off his own back or will we need to tell him I wonder?

The fight goes on for Jerome and we will be discussing at our next branch the plan to take this action forward.