Tube strike over sacking

The Hammersmith & City Line will be affected

London Underground (LU) workers from one Tube line are to go on a 24-hour strike in protest at the sacking of a union activist.

The man was seen coming out of a squash club while on sick leave.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) claim he had medical proof saying sporting activity was part of his recovery programme.

About 100 RMT members who work on the Hammersmith and City Line, used by 55,000 people a day, will now walk out at 2130 GMT on 13 November.

Bob Crow, the union's general secretary, said: "This is a clear case of victimisation of an RMT member making every effort to get back to work after sustaining a serious injury."

Severe disruption

A spokeswoman for London Underground said: "Playing competitive squash is incompatible with the reasons this employee gave us for taking sick leave."

She added: "He has now exhausted the appeals process and we believe that the dismissal was appropriate and fair."

The union said it expected "severe disruption" to services.

On Tuesday, ballot papers were sent out to 8,000 members of the RMT to vote on strike action over safety, following derailments near Hammersmith on 17 October and at Camden Town two days later.

Seven people had to be taken to hospital after a carriage hit the tunnel wall at Camden Town and parts of the Northern Line were shut for 11 days.