First Capital connect Strike

[Metroland]

A 24-hour rail strike is planned in protest at the dismissal of a worker sacked after challenging a fare evader.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will strike at First Capital Connect on 14 September.

The RMT said Rachel Lock was sacked after she was assaulted at a ticket barrier by a passenger angry at being challenged over a ticket.

First Capital Connect (FCC), which runs services through London, said it followed disciplinary procedures.

'Scandal'

Ms Lock was a member of the rail company's revenue team.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "It's a scandal that, instead of supporting their member of staff in this traumatic situation, they have chosen instead to sack her."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8243410.stm

 

[thelem]

Does anyone have any more information about the actual incident? I notice the OP has left out FCC's response to the strike (apologies if it was added to the article later).

An FCC spokesman said the firm would not reinstate Ms Lock.

"This is an unnecessary strike over the dismissal of an employee for gross misconduct," he said.

"The incident was seen by several credible witnesses including an off-duty police officer."

He added: "The safety and security of our staff is our absolute top priority and FCC has followed the disciplinary procedure agreed with the trade unions all the way through to appeal."

FCC would run a "near normal" service during the strike, he said.

It sounds to me (based on the above only) that Ms Lock assulted the passenger, which is unacceptable even if the passenger assulted her first. Yes, revenue staff need to be protected, but so do passengers and according to FCC the proper disciplinary process was followed.

 

[ungreat]

Its called off I think...noone really wants to strike if possible

 

[LondonLarry]

I don't think many members of the public would willingly assault a member of rail staff unless there was some provocation. If the customer assualted Ms Lock for no reason, the police officer's report would reflect that and Ms Lock would still have a job....

 

[Greenback]

I don't think many members of the public would willingly assault a member of rail staff unless there was some provocation. If the customer assualted Ms Lock for no reason, the police officer's report would reflect that and Ms Lock would still have a job....

A rising number of railway staff are being assaulted as they go about their jobs, new crime figures have shown.
More than 3,000 assault cases were recorded in the British Transport Police (BTP) annual report for 2006/07 - a rise of 8% on the previous year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6961192.stm

No doubt every one of the victims provoked the innocent customer? In society as a whole, there ar enumerous examples of unprovoked violence against individuals every week. It is a symtpom of modern life. I don't know the facts of the case involving Ms Lock so i will not speculate, but to generalise that not many rail passengers would assault a member of staff for no reason flies in the face of the evidence!

 

[Ferret]

I don't think many members of the public would willingly assault a member of rail staff unless there was some provocation. .

A ridiculous and frankly insulting post inferring that many rail staff who are victims of assault deserved it. Frankly this is an outrageous suggestion and I strongly suggest you withdraw your comments.

 

[stut]

I don't think many members of the public would willingly assault a member of rail staff unless there was some provocation. If the customer assualted Ms Lock for no reason, the police officer's report would reflect that and Ms Lock would still have a job....

I suspect that, in the eyes of the members of public involved, the words "I'm sorry, you don't have a valid ticket and will have to pay a penalty
fare" counts as provocation.

Either way, hitting someone is assault, however much you are provoked. Is it a good idea to go around provoking people? Of course not. Is it a
criminal offence to hit someone as a result? Yes it is.

Interestingly, PFAS are alleging that the 'reliable off-duty police officer witness' is being investigated for making a false statement:

http://www.penaltyfareappeal.co.uk/wordpress/?p=566

 

[jon0844]

There are a few RPIs that I have seen that must have had poor training, or simply didn't learn. Some are VERY provocative and seem to take great pleasure at telling people they've got to pay a £20 fine. And, yes, I mean fine - not penalty fare. Their mistake, not mine. One day, a serious confrontation is certain to occur - although I suspect many of these 'tough guys' will only exert their authority on people they feel WON'T do anything back.

Of course, I would still defend their right to defend themselves if physically attacked. In the heat of the moment, it's also quite hard to control yourself and consider every move and whether it's reasonable force.

Or, you could lash out first and class it as self-defence because of what someone might do (by which, you can presumably go out and hit anyone just in case) - although that's a rule reserved only for professional footballers.

Edit: What is interesting is the fact there's so little information about this case - and nobody quite seems to know what really happened - yet the RMT managed to secure strike action! Why didn't they wait, or at least demand a full and open inquiry instead?

 

[Ticket Man]

I don't think many members of the public would willingly assault a member of rail staff unless there was some provocation. If the customer assualted Ms Lock for no reason, the police officer's report would reflect that and Ms Lock would still have a job....

I work in revenue and whilst ill agree that 99% of customers would not assault
a member of staff, there are the odd few that would just because they have been informed that their ticket is not valid! All this said though even if the passenger did or did not assault her, sounds like she may have produced an ill concieved responce thet cost her her job.

 

[LondonLarry]

A ridiculous and frankly insulting post inferring that many rail staff who are victims of assault deserved it. Frankly this is an outrageous suggestion and I strongly suggest you withdraw your comments.

I never said she deserved it, but don't front line staff go on conflict avoidance courses? I don't think any member of staff would willingly provoke an assault.

How much do you actually know about this incident to pass judgement?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Edit: What is interesting is the fact there's so little information about this case - and nobody quite seems to know what really happened - yet the RMT managed to secure strike action! Why didn't they wait, or at least demand a full and open inquiry instead?

The RMT rep at the dismissal would be aware of all the facts surrounding the dismissal. RMT mothership is clearly focused on the fact that their member has been assaulted and dismissed, and not the actions that led to the dismissal.

A company wouldn't defend/comment on a dismissal unless the issue was either very sensitive or legal action planned by either party.

 

[Lampshade]

That article gives very little away, at first glance it's almost as if FCC are sacking her because she got assaulted hock:

 

[tony_mac]

I don't think many members of the public would willingly assault a member of rail staff unless there was some provocation.

There are some mentalists out there!

I witnessed an incident a few weeks ago, where a member of the public threw a coke bottle at a train despatcher.
I think that he was in a hurry to make a connection and tried asking her something right at the moment she was trying to despatch a Pendolino. Not surprisingly she was too busy to speak to him and he just lost the plot.

It does seem a bit odd, though. FCC claim several credible witnesses back up their version of events, but no other indication as to what the claims were; although I guess that there are legal / privacy concerns.

 

[Aictos]

Well officially the RMT strike for Monday has been called off after the RMT and FCC came to a settlement.

No idea what it was but a normal service will run on Monday.

So all of our passengers need not worry, their trains will run.