Workers' Liberty

Some anonymous clown has put up notices at Elephant & Castle depot showing images from the CCTV recording of the incident that led to Jerome Bowes' sacking. They even had the cheek to append an RMT logo. Ha ha. Given that this recording 'belongs' to management and that very few people have access to it, LUL clearly needs to investigate its leakage and take necessary action.

Nevertheless, this epsiode has rattled some drivers, as the images don't make Jerome look too good. We all need to remember that selective snapshots from a recording can be very deceptive. They don't show movement; they don't show what happened before or after. Try this: make a digital movie or yourself or a friend dealing with a difficult situation. Even if you dealt with it perfectly, you could then go through the recording and pick out stills that make you look aggressive or otherwise out of order.

And even if Jerome's actions were not 100% squeaky clean, ask yourself how you might have reacted if you feared for your personal safety and were assaulted by someone you had already seen behaving violently on New Year's Eve at a station which is a known trouble spot? And even if you think you would have been the model of calm restraint, ask yourself whether a member of staff deserves to lose his entire livelihood over one incident?

On several past occasions, staff have defended themselves in a similar way and have not lost their jobs. What's the difference this time? Could it be management's discipline clampdown? Surely it couldn't be the fact that Jerome is black?

This dirty attempt to undermine the solidarity shown by Jerome's workmates deserves nothing but contempt. Don't let the anonymous stirrer put you off. It is more important than ever to stand by Jerome Bowes. Vote Yes to escalate the action, then strike to defend your workmate and therefore yourself.