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Tube drivers on the Northern Line are set to go on strike next month in protest over a driver being sacked for allegedly drinking on duty.

Members of the RMT Union today announced they would be staging a walkout on December 1 because they consider their colleague's dismissal to be a "blatant and clear cut case of victimisation and abuse of procedures".

Transport for London (TfL) has reportedly "refused" to hold talks with the union in a bid to avert the strike, the RMT said.

But the transport authority responded that the strike "will not influence our decision and will achieve nothing" in regards to the driver's dismissal.

The strike affects 106 drivers at the Modern station depot. According to TfL, 45 drivers voted for strike action and 13 voted against, while the rest abstained.

Defending the sacked tube driver in a statement, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said his fellow member had a "specific medical condition" and accusations that they had been drinking on duty were "totally untrue".

He said: "RMT has been pointing out for some time now that a new culture of harassment and misuse of procedures is rife on London Underground at the moment and the union will not stand back while individuals are fitted-up and picked off as has happened in this particular case on the Northern Line.

"RMT members are well aware that the only defence that they have in these circumstances, when the internal machinery has been exhausted, is the unity and solidarity in the workplace.

"The unattributed briefings to the media that our member had been sacked for “drinking on duty” are totally untrue. Our member has a specific medical condition and the union maintains that it was the failure to follow agreed procedures that have led to this unwarranted dismissal and the subsequent strike action. The London Underground Director who reviewed the case has accepted openly that the management side have not followed their own procedures."

He continued: "RMT remains available for talks as we seek justice in this blatant and clear cut case of victimisation. The union has been approached by ACAS and is happy to hold talks through their offices but LU management have refused that offer. We hope that they will now agree to get back round the table to reach a resolution."

In response, Nigel Holness, London Underground’s Operations Director for the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, said the union had breached its agreement with TfL by calling the strike while the driver's appeal process was ongoing.

He said: “To ensure the safety of our customers we operate a zero tolerance policy towards alcohol at work. Anyone found to be in breach of this policy faces a disciplinary process and possible dismissal. Furthermore, our health and safety procedures are fully in line with medical standards and are representative of best practice in the rail industry.

“The RMT leadership has balloted its members whilst the appeal process is still in progress. This is in breach of its agreement with us to exhaust all processes, including ACAS, before balloting members in such cases. The result of the RMT leadership’s ballot will not influence our decision and will achieve nothing. Any strike action by the RMT will simply lose its members pay.”