The RMT has confirmed a ‘wave’ of industrial action on the Heathrow Express in a row over a sacked driver member.
The RMT said Zahid Majid was ‘unfairly dismissed’ and despite a series of meetings, Heathrow Express have ‘refused to reinstate him’.
Members of the union will strike for 24 hours between 12:15 Sunday 26th February 2012 and 12:14 on Monday 27th February.
Union members have also been instructed to not work any additional hours between 03:00 on Saturday 3rd March 2012 and 02:59 on Monday 5th March.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“Instead of using the period between the ballot result and the announcement of industrial action to negotiate a settlement, Heathrow Express have instead opted to ratchet up their attacks in an act of blatant provocation.
“The unfair and disproportionate punishment taken by management in both these cases is a total miscarriage of justice and that is reflected in the overwhelming ballot results for action.”
Is there a connection between the bad state of industrial relations and the fact that HE must be the most expensive train service in Europe (the world?).
Amsterdam Centraal from Schiphol Airport, 11 miles for about €4.50
Paddington from Heathrow, about 16 miles for £18
Try Stockholm Arlanda airport to Central station – 20 minutes each way and over £40 return! However, the trains were made in Birmingham….
Expensive, yes, but less than £1 a mile unlike HEX with its Spanish trains.