THE case of a London Underground worker being charged under anti-union laws was described yesterday as an attempt to “score a point against the RMT.”

Mark Harding, a train driver and transport union branch secretary attended the City of London Magistrates’ Court for a hearing, his second since being arrested in February while on the picket line during the Tube strike. 

Mr Harding was being charged with “compelling” an incident cover supervisor not to go to work on a day of strike.

“Were you trying to score a point against the RMT?” Jack Walsh, defending, asked the complainant, Gareth Scott.

Mr Scott has accused Mr Harding — a “first class, exemplary” branch secretary according to colleagues — of calling him a scab and shouting at him while five inches away from his face.

The defence team, however, argues that Mr Scott was not prevented in any way from going in to work, given that he went straight to his office following the alleged altercation.

Whether Mr Scott was stopped from working that day was at the heart of the proceedings. 

Mr Harding is facing charges under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act of 1992 which legislated against such behaviour.

The RMT branch secretary, who sat in a booth during the trial but did not give evidence, denies all suggestions of violence and intimidation.

Witnesses called to the stand described Mr Harding as “a gent” and of “very affable character.”

Crown prosecution attempted to suggest witnesses came to court to distorting reality in an act of solidarity with Mr Harding.

In response, RMT representative Shaun Mckenzie said from the stand:

“It is an act of solidarity, but if you’re telling the truth you’re telling the truth and that’s that.”

Dozens of RMT members stood outside the court in support of Mr Harding until the late afternoon. 

Court proceedings took the whole day, between cross-examination of witnesses and CCTV footage evidence being shown.

The verdict is due on June 2. RMT declined to make any further statements until then.