New Offer to End Tube Strikes

In a move to avoid strike action, London's Transport Commissioner has said he is prepared to reinstate a sacked tube driver if told to by a tribunal.

Members of the RMT union are staging a series of walkouts over the dimissal of Arwyn Thomas, who they claim was targetted for his trade union activities.

He is currently taking a claim of unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal with the results expected later this month.

Talks to try and resolve the dispute broke down yesterday (June 15) with the RMT claiming LU bosses refused to discuss Thomas's case during negotiations.

It means that a series of strikes due to start on Sunday are now set to go ahead, with members walking out for between six and twenty-four hours.

But Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy is asking the union to accept the result of the tribunal when it is announced and call off the strikes.

He says Transport for London's Managing Director Mike Brown has written to the RMT this morning to say "if you want an assurance that we will reinstate Mr Thomas if we are ordered to do so you can have one."