RAIL UNION RMT will being balloting Cross Country staff at Edinburgh Waverley from today for both strike action and action short of a strike over the dismissal of a former Cross Country staff member.
Charlie Letham was dismissed by Cross Country for allegedly missing his revenue targets and according to RMT management refused to acknowledge his underlying health problems and ignored the recommendations from the medical professionals before sacking him.
The ballot begins on today, but RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the union is open to talks with Cross Country.
Cash said: “Charlie Letham has been a loyal union member for 15 years and has done everything he can to continue working in his normal capacity. However, Cross Country management decided that the easiest solution was to dismiss our member despite the weight of medical evidence.
“ This is not a situation that can go unchallenged and is a shocking abuse of power demonstrated by the company management.
“As a result, the union’s executive committee has decided to ballot our all our Cross Country members at Edinburgh Waverley for strike action and industrial action short of a strike, to force the company to re-employ Brother Letham.
“RMT remains available for talks aimed at resolving this dispute.”
