CSA Karl Niles having given 19 years service to London Underground was sacked from his job as a CSA at Pimlico for suffering from Asthma and taking some time off to recover from his attacks.The total amount of time that Karl has had off is between 20 and 25 days yet he has fallen foul of LUL's ridiculous Attendance at Work procedure.

This time off was included in a recent CDI where he was sacked when the panel decided he was not disabled and therefore his Asthma should not come under the Disability Discrimination Act.Other staff on the group have been treated more leniently for taking time off related to their disability.

At a previous CDI he was not allowed time with his advocate to prepare for the case and the paperwork and brief was only supplied on the day. He refused to attend the CDI and in his absence he was given a final caution. There are many more management failings which make Karl’s dismissal a travesty of justice.

This injustice could be meted out to any other member of staff on the group next time and Karl needs your support. We need to send a clear message to management that we will not tolerate this harsh treatment of our members.

Karl's case is one of several cases over the last couple of years where management have ignored their own procedures to sack and stamp on our member’s rights on the Brixton group. Karl had his appeal on Thursday 28th August,upheld the decision to sack him for being sick and having time off due to a disability.This shameful and callous act demonstrates the depths that London Underground are now prepared to go to.It is now up to Karl's colleagues on the Brixton Group and the Finsbury Park Branch to decide on our next course of action.Needless to say we must be campaigning for a robust defence of our member Karl Niles, we await justice but be prepared to defend Karl.

UNITY IS STRENGTH