GO AHEAD AND RMT JOINT ENTERPRISE UNCOVERED - Go Ahead & RMT

The final day of evidence in the case of bus driver Ashley Reed's claim for unfair dismissal concluded at lunch time today at Southampton Magistrates' Court. In a 20-minute presentation the solicitor Stephanie Cummings defended the sacking of Mr Reed, a friend of mine for close to four decades, by Go South Coast in the summer of 2024. In response RMT member Mr Reed summarised the considerable evidence he has supplied in the aim of proving he was unfairly dismissed.  The decision by the tribunal panel of Judge May, Mr Wakeman and Mr English will be announced by the former tomorrow at midday and in the event of Mr Reed winning all or part of his claim there will be a meeting between him and the company to agree some form of compensation. Whatever the outcome there are serious questions to be answered by the RMT union and its central role in  having Mr Reed sacked. 

The third day of the Industrial Tribunal that is set to establish whether bus driver Ashley Reed was unfairly dismissed by Go South (GS) Coast was held today at Southampton Magistrates' Court. The 3-person panel led by Judge May heard evidence over 2.5 hours from Andy Shaw, the ex-Operations Manager at GS, and the current GS General Manager Mr Richard Tyldsley who was in the witness chair for around one hour.  Following their submissions, the pair were questioned by RMT member Ashley Reed, a bus driver for almost a decade, who as a result of being dismissed by GS after just seven months employment has in order to win his claim for unfair dismissal to prove that: 'his dismissal was automatically unfair pursuant to section 152 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992 and that it was a discriminatory act because of his philosophical belief which he contends is a protected characteristic pursuant to the Equality Act 2010.' In blunt terms; 'Was the reas...

The second day of the Industrial Tribunal that will decide on RMT member Ashley Reed's claim for unfair dismissal against Go South Coast (GS) Ltd t/a More Bus took place today at Southampton Magistrates' Court. (Tuesday 24 March 2026)  Cross examination, including questions from the tribunal panel led by Judge May, by the GS solicitor of Mr Reed, which began after lunch yesterday, was concluded around midday.  Reed was followed into the witness box by Martin Conder, a highly experienced bus driver who has frequently taken on the role at various bus companies in the Bournemouth area of trade union representative within the Transport & General Workers Union/UNITE and RMT. The GS legal representative spent no more than 10 minutes asking questions of Conder whose 3,000 word statement in support of Reed has now been entered into court records.  After lunch, Alanah Hughes, the assistant operations manager at the time of Mr. Reed's dismissal, took occupation of the witness b...

 Bus driver Ashley Reed's claim for unfair dismissal by Go South (GS) Coast Ltd t/a More Bus began today (23rd March 2026) at the Magistrates' Court in Southampton.  The day began at 10 am and concluded at 4.30 pm. It was heard before Judge Hay, Mr Wakeman and Mr English. Four further hearing days will take place this week. As Ashley Reed is still giving evidence in the witness box then reporting restrictions mean that only limited information at this stage can be reported.  In an extraordinary situation the 3 witnesses, all RMT reps, whose statements were used by the company to dismiss Mr Reed are not set to give evidence. 

Over two years after RMT member Ashley Reed was sacked the experienced bus driver and life long trade unionist will finally get the chance to put his case for unfair dismissal at an Industrial Tribunal in Southampton starting on Monday 23rd March and lasting 5 days. Ashley will contend that his case involves a gross injustice by the Go Ahead Bus company in which RMT reps, full time officials and two General Secretaries participated.  This blog will carry brief articles of the main events from each session of the tribunal.