Threat of Tube disruption looms

The threat of further strike action over sacked Tube train driver Chris Barrett emerged today.

The RMT union "suspended" 24-hour strikes set for today and New Year's Eve following the last-minute intervention of conciliation service Acas.

But London Underground made clear it would not attend Acas talks.

Acas national conciliator Terry Lippiat told the RMT and LU that a meeting "would be in the interests of both parties at this stage" and added: "I therefore suggest that both sides enter talks without pre-conditions."

In suspending the strikes, RMT leader Bob Crow said the union was "pleased Acas has now offered its help in resolving the dispute".

He said: "We are approaching that process with goodwill," but added: "We will continue to seek a fair hearingfor the RMT member who has lost his job through an unfair and discredited disciplinary decision.

"We have stated at every stage of this dispute that an attempt should be made through Acas to resolve it, but LU management has ignored that responsible approach.

"It is probably too much to hope that LU will respond to this gesture by engaging with us in the search for even-handed, transparent and consistent means of resolving disciplinary cases."

LU today said the company was willing to talk "directly" with the RMT but not at the conciliation service.

An LU spokeswoman said: "We are not minded to go to Acas, we want to talk directly with the RMT." In the meantime, the dismissal remains.

The continued refusal of LU to conduct negotiations at Acas casts doubt over talks starting early next month to avert further action. There has already been one 24-hour stoppage.

Mike Brown, LU's chief operating officer, said: "We are very pleased that Londoners will be able to travel over the festive period without the disruption these strikes would have caused."

All previous "direct" talks between the union and LU have failed to find a solution.

Mr Barrett was dismissed from his £32,000-a-year job after LU claimed he had been playing "competitive" squash, despite being on sick leave with an injured ankle.

The union says Mr Barrett's sick leave is covered by certificates from his doctor. Mr Barrett said LU had ignored his explanation that he was doing exercises to help his recovery from the injury - which, he said, is backed up by two letters from his GP and one from a sports physiotherapist.

Bobby Law, the RMT's London secretary, said: "If we go to Acas I am sure we can resolve this issue. LU has been refusing to go to Acas because they know we have a very strong case."

Ken Livingstone has backed LU's stance over the sacking. On the day of the last strike on 14 November Mr Livingstone said that he "fully supported" LU management.

The Mayor said since Mr Barrett had started working for the Underground in 1998 he has "been off sick 20 per cent of the time - that averages a day off sick a week".