Crow and RMT lose credibility

The RMT has accepted assurances from Transport for London about its members' future that are effectively identical to those on offer on Monday night and which were accepted by two other large unions. Bob Crow, the RMT leader, has lost his members a day's pay and inconvenienced millions of people for no good purpose. He has demonstrated that for him strike action is a negotiating tool rather than a last resort. That is not a responsible or rational approach for the leader of a union thatwields such considerable power.

The one person who comes out of this sorry affair with his reputation enhanced is Tim O'Toole, head of London Underground. He showed exemplary restraint in negotiation. Passengers should be grateful that he is fighting on their behalf.

The strike was about the future of Tube maintenance workers following the collapse of Metronet, the consortium responsible for the upkeep of most of the Underground lines. It now looks possible that the operations of Metronet may now be undertaken by Transport for London. This is what the Mayor wants and, in fact, this is exactly what the RMT wants. But as Mr O'Toole pointed out, this outcome has been delayed, not advanced, by strike action. The mechanism for Transport for London to take over from Metronet would be hideously complex - it would mean that the maintenance work on the Tube would be divided between two operators, one in the private sector, one under public control. Yet such a hybrid might be in the best interests of London Underground users. For one thing, there will be few private sector consortia anxious to take on Metronet's legacy - and its £2 billion debt.

But for now, Mr Crow would be well advised to call off next Monday's strike action. He has already lost credibility and done his members no earthly good.