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London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
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Kiley deal infuriates unions
By Dick Murray, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 22.12.04The timing could have been better.
In the midst of some of the worst industrial relations for years over pay and working conditions, Transport for London decided to announce that Bob Kiley, the American in overall charge of London Underground, has been awarded a new four-year contract worth a staggering £2.4million.
Plus, of course, the continued use of a £2.1million Belgravia townhouse he shares with wife Rona. This has infuriated the unions and strengthened their resolve to fight for increased pay - even if that does mean a fresh round of strikes or other industrial action, whatever the consequences to the system's longsuffering commuters.
Mr Kiley, 67, will get a salary of £318,000 a year plus an annual bonus of up to £285,000. The deal is a 20 per cent increase on his last four-year contract.
The Standard revealed in April that he was to be awarded a new lucrative contract but this was flatly denied by Transport for London.
Mayor Ken Livingstone, who appointed Mr Kiley transport commissioner, justified the huge salary by claiming: "Bob Kiley has created one of the best transport management teams in the world - recently rated excellent by the Audit Commission - and led the first steps in the transformation of London's transport system after decades of neglect."
A former CIA spy, Mr Kiley came with the reputation of having turned round the performance of the New York subway in the Eighties.
Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, largest of the Tube unions, summed up the growing animosity over the deal. "It is one rule for chief executives and another for LU workers," he said.
