The RMT has backed Mr Barrett's case

Chris Barrett, 30, said he wanted his job back after winning his unfair dismissal claim, despite previously saying he did not want to return to LU.

An LU spokesman said it has appealed the employment tribunal's decision.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said it will ballot members if Mr Barrett does not return.

His sacking from the �32,000-a-year job prompted a 24-hour strike by the union last November.

'Rules breached'

Mr Barrett, who is currently employed by a local authority, said he would consider another position within LU.

But his solicitors are seeking a five-figure sum in compensation and loss of earnings despite the tribunal ruling that he "contributed to his own dismissal by 75% ".

And RMT leader Bob Crow told BBC London: "The tribunal awarded in our favour.

Chris Barrett said he would consider another job within LU

"If the tribunal's decision is not carried out by LU, then ultimately we have to back to our members and ask them if they wanted to take any further action."

But LU's Howard Collins said: "We believe he was fairly dismissed. He was not frank with us and he breached our rules.

"We have lodged an appeal and we will wait for process to take its full course before we make any decisions. There is no point jumping the gun."

He was sacked by LU after being spotted coming out of a sports centre.

He admitted he had been playing squash but maintained it was part of a programme to return to work.

He has said that a former professional footballer, who now works as a sports injury therapist, had devised a programme for him of rising intensity to include playing squash so that he could recover from an ankle injury.