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This country is such a joke. The workers are so lucky they have been given a job. We pay so much money for such a bad service. I've been to Hong Kong and Singapore and they have a much more efficient, clean working environment where staff seem so alive and happy to work. The workers on the tube seem so miserable and sad. This is a mirror image of the actual tube network once you enter it. How can the workers moan about pay when they get paid too much. If you want more pay, get a qualification or start up your own business. Just stop striking and moaning. If it was my choice I'd sack the ones on strike and get new workers that appreciate work!

- Mark, London, Kensington

I keep reading tube drivers waffling on that they should receive pay rises and no one should be made redundant because the failings were at upper management level. Could one of these drivers answer if they believe that the same should apply to banks? After all, the failings were at upper management level, so in effect you're saying that all staff should receive pay rises and bonuses even though the bank might actually collapse and investors lose all their money, right? It's the same principle as your argument, you’re running the tube network into the ground by behaving like parasites, swallowing taxpayers money at every opportunity.

- Bob, Cheam

Nobody should expect a payrise above inflation in a recession, and even if the economic climate was good you couldn't keep a load of people employed who are duplicating other jobs, it makes no sense whatsoever and anyone with a brain can see that. Unfortunately Bob Crow and his sheep don't have one between them. They just want a couple of days off to watch football and have a hangover.

- D.W., London

As I have recently spent three months training as a driver I particularly enjoy the comments that driving a train is easy and requires no skill. The tube workers have not been on strike for 5 years, the strike is almost always called off at the last minute. Information has come to light that the unions and management had agreed a deal to call off the strike but the deal was called of by none other than our wonderful major. With regard to the pay rise issue (which is in fact secondary to the other issues) an offer of 1% is an insult, particularly when management are giving themselves a tidy bonus and even one bank is giving their staff a 5% payrise.
Finally, the issue of the the two sacked drivers is one that noone seems to have the correct facts on. It has been reported that Mr Campbell attempted to cover up the mistake he made, a blatent lie as the management would never have even known it happenned unless he had reported it. In addition, Victoria line drivers are not protected by the same safety features that all other lines have and so, being human, mistakes are sometimes made. The theft incident is a joke. The person in question was fired on the basis of being "the most likely person to have attempted to take it" There is absolutely no proof!!! Whatever happenned to innocent until proven guilty? I for one cannot afford to lose the money, but will fight to protect myself and others.

- Tube Girl, hornchurch

The issue of two sacked drivers (rightly so in my opionion) is not what THIS dispute is about.

- Charles, London

I think the underground workers should stop holding us all to ransome we get this every couple of years when they want more money i believe if you look at most bussiness`s over the last 18months they have freezed pay rises so why should you guys be different just get on with it like the rest of us after all the country is in recision and also the basic salary of 42k (train driver) and 32k for station staff is a fantasic salary already also i have lived in london for the past 10 years and in general i found most of the station staff arrogant , rude and unhelpful compared to the rest of England and it worrys me that it is only 3 years until 2012 where i`m sure at some stage we will be held to ransome yet again.

- Paul, London

Dear Unions

We used to have a steel, dock, mining, coal, car industry. Thanks to the unions all gone and now they want to do the same to the transport industry. When will they learn ? Blackmail never works.

- Alan Foreman, Wimbledon. London

Nice to see the Thatcher legacy alive and kicking, with the ignorant masses voicing the opinions fed to them by biased media.
"I haven't got job security", "I haven't got a decent wage", "I haven't got a decent pension scheme". Do you know why? Because you rolled over and exposed your bellies!
125 senior LUL/TFL bosses getting in excess of £100k bonuses each!
Metronet collapsing and you the public happily paying for it!
LUL mangement reneging on promises, disregarding their own policies, willing to put your safety at risk.
RMT holding Londoners to ransome? No! LUL/TFL and True Blue Tory LABOUR are holding you to ransome.
Have a nice day!

- Jack,, London UK

To Bob from Cheam- who do you think the strikers are striking against if not the management? They try to negotiate deals with the management, and they find the management intransigent. So what options do they have available to them? Make a polite request not to sack people/make them redundant? Or use what muscle they do have? My comment about a management who are unfit for their roles was to give some perspective about what kind of management the workers are dealing with. Perhaps you could share your own personal experiences dealing with the day-to-day Tube managers as a worker, and I'd be happy to share mine.

- Richard, London

@ Mark, Hornchurch: If you don't your shift work, find another job. It is not compulsory to work for London Underground.

- Alex, London

I hope, some of you digest the fact that some TFL officials are on higher earnings than Gordon Brown!

So i believe they have every right to fight for a pay increase with this in mind!

Perhaps some of you should tell our City Bankers they should be happy with what they have and to stop going after pay rises! But of course they get away with it!

- Rmt Member, London

Getting into work tomorrow will be hell, I'm sure, but in all honesty - I support the strikers. They are just ordinary people doing their jobs, paying their bills and mortgages and asking for job security and a decent wage. They didn't make the mistakes or rash, greed-motivated decisions - their "bosses" did, but they aren't loosing job security or getting pay cuts.
Most of us in London are struggling, losing jobs, losing job security, working impossible hours and selling our lives to survive through no fault of our own. Our homes have lost value, our pensions are evaporating, everything which gives us basic stability and security is being undermined - through no fault of our own. We are being squeezed until the pips squeak because the global elite which rules us wants to maximise their power and profits. Most of us don't have any power to stand our ground and say enough is enough, but the tube workers do. So - good luck to them. Let's not turn on each other - let's turn on those who have really caused the chaos.

- Tokata, London, UK

Raising your blood pressure over Bob Crow is only going to boost his already-inflated ego and sense of self-importance. You have to wonder about what conduct he considers acceptable in his membership - what next after theft and endangering the travelling public and then covering it up?

Perhaps what you should be asking is how bad TfL/LU management are: despite low participation in the ballots the response is remarkably solid. Bad management means that there is little loyalty and little incentive to take anything said at face value.

The average contributor to these message boards has a wonderfully simplistic view of life - usually on the Thatcher/Blair selfish scale. Crow plays to this as there are plenty whose objectives don't align to yours - and whose right to express a view and take action (however wrong-headed) is equally legitimate.

If anyone needs to be held to account, it is your wonderful Mayor. A no-strike, binding-arbitration process would be wonderful and he promised it - but in a year in office what has he achieved towards it? The triumph is Bob Crow's - the bluster, arrogance and incompetence of another major party apparatchik plays right into his hands.

- Cynic, Fortunately no longer London

The strike had nothing to do with 2 sacked drivers like Boris said it was about pay and redundancies, an agreement to call off the strike action today had been typed up at approx 7pm, Bob Crow had signed it, The London Underground management were phoned by city hall and told not to sign. Boris scuppered the deal. So the strike went ahead, so what happened to the promise Boris made when elected that he would sort out a no strike deal

A lying politican now theres a shock

- David (Tube Worker), Ealing

Quite right Mark - although you're honest and open opinions on the cause of the strike will not, i fear, be taken seriously by the readers of this rag - a fair few of which ARE the greedy capatalists / aspiring cheap-suited ones who you see / get abuse from every day in your job, and they appear not to like it when the working classes show unity and strength...

- Spotty Dog, Here & Now

Since the UK is going center right why not do what Reagan did with the air traffic controllers - fired them all! That will show them - suxs to be you; join the rest of us bums who use public transportation.

- Jp, NY, US

I work for the tube and was happy with the 2nd offer that was made which was a 2 year deal,in 2 years hopefully the economy will be on the up and we could get a better deal,i cant see the point in striking for 2 days and ending up with 2% or 3% pay rise that we would have lost by striking,

I am a member of the rmt and if it is true that the only sticking point is these 2 people that have been sacked i will go to work, i will take the abuse from the picket-lines and the customers alike.

but anyone who says it is an easy job should just read some of these coments because we have to put with these type of people everyday and it does get you down and comments like "if you dont like it leave" are a load of rubbish because if you have a family mortgage bills ect.... ect..... you cant

- Tony, london

The sooner the Tube gets automated the better - it's something that's LONG overdue.

Apologies to those decent tube workers who voted against this strike, (and all the many, many other strikes) but you are in a tiny minority.

All we hear from Tube drivers is how hard the job is, how they're not paid enough, how they feel their jobs should be guaranteed etc, etc. Welcome to the club!

The only difference is the vast majority of your passengers are unable to hold to ransom the whole of London into repeatedly giving them what they want.

It's blackmail.

And it's blackmail that invariably happens during the good weather of the summer, and as often as not when the international football is on.

- John T, London

We live in a day and age where computers can do most things including operate tubes - sack the staff and put robots in - they cost much less and you can turn them off when they start moaning

- L, London, London

This is a FARCE.
1) Service never works well
2) They have a complaint email, I never got a reply
3) They write: Good Service when there is clearly disruption, thus manipulating their statistics.
4) They take us everyday hostage, I need 3 buses to go to work so have no choice as I cannot afford car.
5) Public service employees should be forced to minimum service like teh SNCF or Metro in France
6) Hello have youi noticed there is a crisis there...
7) My French boss in Paris will think I am skipping work in the next 3 days, he might fire me...

You are now the most hated profession in the UK, the bankers must be grateful (at least they don't strike!)

- Jean, DISGRACE

Unbelievable, yet again a small minority have brought London to its knees again. Every year it seems to be the same issue, pay, reinstate staff who have been sacked oh and no redunandies. I agree with Mark's comments that TFL staff do have to work very long hours and have days off spaced apart. - but #if shift work is not your thing then look else where! You must of realised that shift work was involved form the start!!!
Who else in London can demand a pay rise and also demand not to be made redundant - come on Tube staff get with the programme and it is 2009, #not 1909....

Oh and PPP - so a few people made some cash on the part sale of the underground - do you really think any of them travel by rail - you are punishing everyone BUT the ones who made a fast buck.

- Jon Goldstein, London, UK

The RMT are selfish, arrogant, greedy bullies and are going to bring this city to its knees. All jobs are demanding, and lots of people have to do shift work not just RMT members. If it's such a terrible job how come it is so competitive to get one of them?

- Jayne, SW London

If so many people on this blog feel so strongly about tube workers allegedly being overpaid,lazy,selfish and hold Londoners to ransom,why dont you all do your civic duty and apply for jobs with London Underground and change things?

- James Connolly, London ,England

We all wish we could have a pay raise and have a guarantee that no-one loses their jobs.But, I doubt there is any one of the 3.5 million people who use the tubes daily that has been granted either of those two wishes in the current market.What is worse is that so many more jobs are hanging in the balance that 2 days of reduced trade are likely to lead to more redundancies. A strike like this hits the wrong people, those already struggling to make ends meet, rather than those whose minds RMT want to change.

- Sasha, London

This is absolutely outrageous by the London Underground staffs, their greed is utterly unacceptable if anyone considers our misery! Yet I would also like some one to raise the question to the Mayor of London and to the Government why TFL big bosses are getting huge bonuses when the country is suffering? why government employee should get obscene amount of bonus? they are not doing us any favour or making money for us, they are there to serve London not to be served by TAX payers money

- Michael R, Lodnon

most unions do a good job of legitimately protecting their members interests. But through their actions, these dinosaurs threaten the whole union movement and hence the welfare of the average working man and woman. We need the other unions to condemn the RMT before it is to late....

- Zady, london

Companies in the public sector are giving virtually NOONE in their employment pay rises at the moment. Unemployment is at an all-time high. It is a disgrace that these greedy (and yes I mean the people that feel they're being under-paid are GREEDY) people are able to destroy so many other people's days in this way. Count yourself lucky you've got a job and get to it.

- Nick, London

These idiots [and they are idiots] should look at the print industry ,it became personnel free sooner rather than later , as a result of their last strike.So will the tubes , and not before time.The technology is there ,just sack them.No gradeouse redundancy schemes necessary now the gloves are off.

- Chris M, morbihan,france

Enough!

There comes a time when you have to stand up to the bully or it will never stop.

If there is anyone, Boris, anyone, brave enough for the fight, I will support you all the way.

As long as you promise not to capitulate or buckle until the job is done, I will gladly get up 2 hours earlier, walk to work, walk back and get home 2 hours late, for as long as it takes.

Just smash these RMT thugs!

- Gawainsimon, London

The RMT are a throwback to an ugly time. Boris needs to be tough; end the closed shop grasp these thugs have on LU jobs, suspend ringleaders, re-open pay discussions and hit them where it hurts. It cannot be right that a few union activists can bring London to its knees and cause disruption and cost businesses so much. Come on Boris, take no prisonners, we'll back you all the way.

- Jim, london

I'm most dissappointed by the majority of workers that didn't vote - at least the 2,810 had an opinion - what about the 6,702 that sat on the fence?

- Owen, London, UK

hi
i work for London underground and im not going on strike tomorrow, i must admit i think some of the comments are harsh on here, yes i know there is a recision out there but it is not the fault of the workers who work for transport for london, but people high up in the food chain who have messed up & now everyone on the lower scale now has to pay the price, all i want is a reasonable pay rise, im not talking about an astronomical pay rise but at least more than half a percent, and not tied in to a four year deal as we dont know what is going to happen around the corner let alone in 4 years. I dont agree with the princaple of this strike, & people who call us greedy are just Jealous, if you think we have it so easy go and get a job here, but maybe you wouldnt be able to handle the shift work like getting up at 2.15am to get to work or getting home at 3am or maybe you dont want to wrok 7-10days straight before your day off, or maybe you dont want to work most weekends and only get a proper weekend off every 4 weeks.
Things have changed in the economy & I agree things cant go on as they have done with regards to pay. but spare a thought for the 1000+ people who are going to lose there job because of metronets collapse which was a bad misguided attempt to run it under the PPP. At the end of the day a lot of people made a fast buck when the parts of the underground were sold off & those are the ones that should be punished.

- Mark, hornchurch

give me a job and i will walk acroos the picket line

- Steven Woodfordgreen, essex england

How can the strike be reported as a 48 hour walk-out when TFL have communicated the following information on their website:

Tube - The strike is planned from 18:59 on Tuesday 9 June to 18:58 Thursday 11 June. Normal services will resume on Friday morning, 12 June. Customers using the Underground on Tuesday evening are advised to finish their journeys by 19:00.

Spot the obvious mistake? Get the rolling stock in place for a 18:58 resumption of the service on Thursday. TFL is also careful not to commit to a time when normal services will resume on Friday morning - we know it will still be chaos. It is a complete joke.

- Marie, London, UK

RMT member calling the general public selfish! Pot calling kettle black springs to mind! the only people who are selfish are the RMT members who are striking!

- Jk, London

I really don't see how the RMT are doing the tube workers any favours by having this strike. They are just causing more anomosity towards their staff by causing the general public a complete inconvenience.

- Ian, London

Why should there be an agreement against compulsory redundancies? We have one of the most expensive transport systems in the world, and part of this is clearly down to over-staffing. Every day I see loads of tube staff in stations milling around, together in little groups talking, doing anything to avoid interaction with customers.
LU should be trying to make efficiencies the same as the rest of us are having to do, and there's obviously a lot that could come out here and be paid less without compromising safety or the service at all. And LU should be freed by legislation to do this without having a militant union and its fat cat leader blocking progress at every opportunity. The union's job should then be just to make sure this is done in a fair and reasonable way by dialogue, not walking out every time they don't get their own way.
And strikes on monopoly services should just be outlawed.

- R Webster, London, England

A few conclusions that can be drawn thus far then:
Bob, Melvyn plus a few hundred RMT members (and Wayne for different reasons - sorry about your concert mate..?!) all live on their own special planet which is lost somewhere in the 1970's

The tube drivers are a good bunch (ASLEF) - generally don't strike - but guess what? Won't be able to get to work anyway for fear of being beaten up by a bunch of thugs on picket lines. (RMT)

Londoners (and a guy from Florida - weird..!) are pretty annoyed about the whole situation and willing to take the pain to break this lot up.

Generally the view seems to be that the RMT is out of touch, Bob and his cronies are reviled thug's and the union should be disbanded or restructured.

Conclusion: The giggle will wear off if London does not back down; strikers do not get paid. The vast majority of the RMT members did not vote and this will likely create internal strife as discontent and frustration sets in.....sounds familiar...? Oops yep - the government.

SO the ball is in our hands as citizens of this fine city. We can wear them down provided those that we voted in (Boris & Co) do not back off. We cannot have a union like this around come 2012 as someone has already pointed out. We'll be the laughing stock of the planet.

- Bodgerlondon, London.

Bob Crow is a real throwback to the 1970's when communist union leaders came close to destroying the country.
Nobody can be in any doubt that this action, lead and instigated by Crow, is completely without merit. Boris is absolutely right to stand firm against this appalling strike action. As a commuter, I am happy to walk as long as it takes for this shabby bunch to be defeated.

- Simon, Hampton, West London

As a tubeworker and someone who actually knows what this strike is about can we please just point out these sacked people are a completely seperate dispute something that has caused the 2 victoria line shutdowns! Union bash all you want, but they are fighting for there members

I wish the strike didnt go ahead, but this isnt just about pay, its about the way management is treating members. It is about job security that was promised and now being taken away because of this government and the useless PPP that has cost you the paying public MILLIONS OF POUNDS and thats without the cost to the taxpayer for the failure of Metronet. How long will Tubelines last is what most of us keep wondering?

Maybe you think well just quit but its not the point when you enjoy the job but are HOUNDED by management when you are medically sick with CANCER and forced back to work early. I wish the union didnt have to take it out on the commuter and the evening standard would actually print FACTS. Its well known for hating union workers and hard working tube workers.

You may think we are lazy but thats because you havent done the job and understand the stress we are under.

Everyone keeps saying privatise LUL. OK well if you want the inadequate service and the track disasters that have killed many people because of engineering incompitence and you think prices wont go even more ridiculous like national rail!

I am glad to see that regardless of union bashing some people can see why we fight!

- Rmt Tubeworker, London

What would you guys say if you turned up at an Accident and Emergency and were told the doctors and nurses were on strike?

- Jennie, London

Passengers have been asked by TFL to consider staggering their journeys during strike action. May I inquire into exactly what that means?

Am I being asked to take a straw poll vote at my tube station this evening to ascertain when exactly other passengers intend to travel, and then choose a different time?

Or, as has been helpfull suggested by a colleague with whom I have debated the issue, am I being asked to take a more indirect route, which may involve more tubes?

Or, is the general idea to have a tipple after work to avoid the rush and then stagger home?

I am most intrigued by what "staggering" should mean, and if I can be enlightened in time to implement the process, I would be happy to oblige.

- Kathryn, London

I wish my pay was a quarter of what the drivers get, and the only pay rise I get is when the minumin wage is raised.

- Dave, Isle of Wight

Bob Crow reminds me of the dock unions in the 60's, look what happened to them and the work force.

- Shallotman, Basildon

Mr RMT Worker. Your comment below just reiterates how ridiculous you all are. Everyone has to put up with things behind the scenes, they have to put up with things that you wouldn't even begin to imagine - and no doubt you would come out on strike for at the drop of a hat. Have a think about all other jobs and other industries. You are not special. Give it up if you don't like it and go work somewhere else. simple.



I also see that commuters are coming out with their usual selfish lines!
Most individuals comments criticising tube workers jobs, clearly have little or no clue as to what they have to put up with behind the scenes.
Legally they can, and they have every right too!

Perhaps those that are under the belief that tube drivers have such a easy job, should see what it is like when an indvidual goes under a train, or when groups of youths start throwing stones at the train they are driving!

- Susan P, Berkshire

When Ronald Regans administration was faced with intransigence by the Air Traffic Control union he sacked them all and replaced them with armed forces personnel.
Why is it that Bob Crow seems to think he and his featherbedded RMT members is immune to global recession?
Now is the time to train our own replacements for this greedy self serving bunch of trotskyites and sack the lot of them!!!

- John Simpson, Oxford

Why are we surprised this isn't a strike but the RMT's (un)official holiday-it happens every year at the same time for more and more spurious reasons. I do hope they don't think the public are behind them on this one! If they do boy what an enormous shock they have coming!!! Sack the blooming lot of them its an absolute disgrace

- Claire, London

Colin from Barking, I have no issue with workers joining a union and striking because they are being underpaid or badly treated. However this is blatantly not the case here. The tube drivers earn a very fair wage and yet their union seems to strike more than just about any other in the country - often over trivial disputes. They know this will inconvenience millions of lower paid workers including temps who will not be paid for any days they miss. Even if you're socialist, surely you accept unions can be greedy and in the wrong, and that certainly seems to be the case here.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent

If it such a terrible job, jack it in.

- Shallotman, Basildon

How about they arrest Bob Crow under anti-terror legislation?

- Peter, London

Tube workers in general, we have no sympathy for you at all.
When do we get to cause you “inconvenience and chaos”? What is our recourse for quite often suffering such pathetic levels of service?
It’s about time we started negotiating to reduce pays across such a disorganised and poorly managed group, because everyone else is struggling with the current economies, why not tube workers? Bob Crow in particular needs to be removed from his position as the instigator of many unnecessary actions.
If the previously mentioned two tube workers are reinstated, it is without doubt, cause to take legal action against the tube workers association by the general public. I for one support a class action suit against them all. Let’s see your union front it all then.
Watch them destroy the Olympics and embarrass this city even more.

- Brennon Williams, London

Colin (barking)
Many of us believe that the best way to stand up for your rights is to work hard and strive to better yourself. Many of us also believe that if you think you are financially undervalued the best way to prove it is to find another employer who will satisfy your needs. If you can't or are unwilling do that then you are not worth what you think you are. No point in taking it out on the rest of us.

- John Entwistle, Hertford

Mr Crow, we live in a democracy, and you have made an enemy of most of the travelling public in London.
I think you will find that next year's Tory government will get huge support for restructuring the way London's transport is run. You have not represented your members, but have ensured that they will go the way of the miners. Own goal.

- Stuart, London

Shall we all strike for better Tube services and avoid the tube for a while when this strike is ending?

- Carsten, London

Regular unjustified strikes are the only way the union leaders can justified their existence.

- Peter, London

I think this is the final nail in the coffin for any public support for RMT. I think we have reached a point where we need to start training the army to run the network in the event of strikes. That should put a stop to the hand full of militants with a self serving agenda.

- Lee, london

It is an absolute disgrace. They are well paid, with great holidays and benefits. To hold the whole capital to ransom after being offered a great deal in bad times is beyond belief. To then demand reinstatement of sacked staff, one of whom is being charged for theft, begger's belief. Who else could eben think this would happen. And all this while they constantly ask for respect from the public, they do not deserve it.

- Michael Brennan, London

I am disgusted that Bob Crow should be alowd to hold thousands of people to ransom so he and his workers can line their allready bulging Pockets with more money everybody else has to take pay cuts or lose their tobs because of the resession, Bob need to be taken down a peg or too at the very least put in the stocks. or at the very least been given a severe dressing down by the prime Minister

- Nick, Harrow, Middlesex

Once again this Gangster bob Crow has shown you cant deal with primitives such as him. His membership should be ashamed that they heve such a person as union leader.Dont they realise that they are stigmatised by a man(a misnomer if there ever was one) who has no morals or honour

- Peter French, Orihuela Costa Spain

Ah poor rmt member (diddums). finding life hard, kiddies throwing stones and the occassional person throwing themselves under a train.
Try serving in the forces and seeing your mates getting blown to bits, for al lot less than you earn, and they don't strike.

Get a life and look at the world aorund you, it's not what you think. The public selfish, now that's calling the kettle black.

- Malc, London,England

Policeman, nurses and fireman are worth five times we pay these jumped up bandits. It is a disgrace traindrivers get 42k a year and now sucking more blood out of the system

- Gary, Brentwood 2

Dear RMT member,

since the beginning of the tube people have used it as a devices for suicide. And I am pretty sure you were not press-ganged into working on the tube. So please explain why you are complaining about something that you CHOOSE to be involved in?

No I didn't think you would, this is prime example of a union run by a bully that isn't interested in anything other than there own selfish gain. Bob Crow gets paid an awful lot more than most people and he is clearly as out of touch.

As for youths throwing stones, how much do police offices get paid, oh that's right an awful let less than you.

Get back on you train drive the thing and stop moaning.

- Looney, UK, London

Why not train thousand of drivers (from say Poland) who really want to work and then sack all those RMTs' who are on strike.

These RMT drivers are very well paid and could not have earned such high salaries elsewhere.

In this current climate everyone has to tighten his/her belt and to hold commuters as hostages should be deemed criminal

SACK THE LOT

- Curtis, Woodford Green; UK

The comments on here show we have bred a generation of supine bootlickers who have no concept of standing up for their rights at work. Smash the RMT,sack them all cut their pay,whatever.You will still go to work and be kicked around by those you regard as your superiors.

- Colin, barking essex

It is an absolute disgrace that the overwhelming majority can be held to ransom buy a tiny minority in supposedly ‘the world’s greatest democracy’. It is beyond belief that the unions can hold millions of Londoners to ransom over the disciplinary of two individuals. Even more baffling is the dismissal of an inflation beating pay offer for an even higher, greedier level of pay. Are Bob Crow and the RMT so stupid that they cannot see the UK is tinkering on the brink of a deflationary environment and that workers across the land are losing their jobs in this recessionary environment? It is unbelievable that the unions are so detached from reality. If Bob Crow and the RMT were to pull their heads out they would clearly see that London Underground workers should thank themselves bloody lucky they are working in an industry that is relatively immune from such concerns. I’m afraid small scale redundancies are par for the course Bob Crow! Tube drivers are already overpaid relative to essential workers and are entitled to holidays and perks the average UK worker can only dream of. Bob Crow and his RMT chancers have to be stopped in their tracks once and for all. Mr Brown - here's your chance!!!

- Ben Robinson, London

It is beyond belief that the unions can hold millions of Londoners to ransom over the disciplinary of two individuals. Even more baffling is the dismissal of an inflation beating pay offer for an even higher, greedier level of pay. Are Bob Crow and the RMT so stupid that they cannot see the UK is tinkering on the brink of a deflationary environment and that workers across the land are losing their jobs in this recessionary environment? It is unbelievable that the unions are so detached from reality. If Bob Crow and the RMT were to pull their heads out they would clearly see that London Underground workers should thank themselves bloody lucky they are working in an industry that is relatively immune from such concerns. I am afraid small scale redundancies are par for the course Bob Crow! Tube drivers are already overpaid relative to essential workers and are entitled to holidays and perks the average UK worker can only dream of. Bob Crow and his RMT chancers have to be stopped in their tracks once and for all. Mr Brown, now is your chance to do us all a favour for once.

- Ben Robinson, London

There have been some pretty offensive comments regarding monkeys on this page. Monkeys aren't that daft! I reckon you could teach a chicken to do their job.
These people who are striking should hang their heads in shame but therein lies the problem.
Instead they will hold their heads high with a smirk on their face, whilst surveying the chaos unfolding around them.

Well done. You must feel so big and proud.

- Tony, London

I think it's bad enough these strikers are rejecting "above inflation payrises" when most of us won't be seeing payrises at all this year and that's the ones of us who are lucky enough to still have our jobs! But for the strikers to also add to this the demand for reinstatement of the two workers who obviously did not care enough about their jobs that they behaved and worked inappropriately and well below standards(when thousands of others would gladly take those two jobs and work a lot harder and with more respect towards their employers and customers) is outrageous beyond belief! Are the RMT completely mad? Have they no sense let alone morals! This is the second time since living in London this has happened and they get away with it so they are going to continue doing it whenever the spoiled little brats don't get what they want - sack them all I say!

- Kw, London, UK

privatize it the london transport and then lets see how many london transport workers wants to stay on.......... they have the best wages, sick pays holidays and to cap it all pensions,,,,,,,,,,some all get so called early retirement on flimsy medical grounds

- Bipin, london

RMT will fidn that the majority of the general public do not support them. Its such a shame that Bob Crow is obviously not living on the same planet as the rest of us. Let them strike - its about time we did not give in to their demands time and time again. As they are obviously never satisfied. Its also about time it was made illegal for them to strike!

- Jk, London

In this day and age I'd have expected someone to have designed and fitted a 'failsafe' gadget to prevent tube doors 'opening on the wrong side', with a guide/alert, indicator light/alarm in the cab!

Surely to God such things aren't left to chance, or to the falability of one mortal man/woman!

Are the rest of the world's tube management/operating systems as shockingly negligent as ours?

- Dave, Cumbria

Melvyn you are brave man! But a brave man who is talking rubbish. The only reason why the RMT have not been destroyed (as the public so clearly wish for) is that they have a monopoly on public transport and can dictate the terms to the miserable and hapless Londoners who pay them.

- Tim, London, UK

I hope all the RMT members who voted for this are out in front of the closed tubes, with clearly marked clothing so we can all thank them personally for the chaos they have caused.
I have had to cancel a medical appointment and i am sure there are others who will be seriously affected by this, as if problems getting to work are not serious enough.

Employment law has improved so we dont need unions, and they only harm the rest of us who work outside of a union.

- Jeremy, London, UK

If they have to strike,they should do it the Italian way,strike during office hours,but guarantee the working public their right to go to work and home again.
The organizers of this strike are a bunch of irresponsible gits.

- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy

I also see that commuters are coming out with their usual selfish lines!
Most individuals comments criticising tube workers jobs, clearly have little or no clue as to what they have to put up with behind the scenes.
Legally they can, and they have every right too!

Perhaps those that are under the belief that tube drivers have such a easy job, should see what it is like when an indvidual goes under a train, or when groups of youths start throwing stones at the train they are driving!

- Rmt Member, London

I have grown up as a natural supporter of the labour movement and unions as a concept.

However, this strike and a few of the previous tube strikes, together with Bob Crowes endless posturing, shows a fundamental lack of self awareness that is fatally undermining the principals of the movement.

The vast majority of private sector workers are expecting 0% pay increases, many got 0% last year, we dont have final salary pensions and we dont get enormous holiday entitlements, and sympathy for the poor tube drivers is now non-existent among the majority of Londoners faced with 4.30am starts to get in to work.

RMT, Tube drivers - You are creating a public perception of childish, overpayed fatcats, who go on strike every time you dont get what you want.

By poisening public opinion against yourselves, you are effectively paving the way for Maggie Thatcher II.

- Nick, Islington, London

These clowns that strike are a joke as is Bob Crow, but they don't actually care what the public think. They know we disapprove, but a couple of extra days off during the summer outweighs public disapproval in their minds. I'm just glad its raining so their planned golf days are washed out.
If I lied or stole in my job I'd be sacked. In certain countries they'd have their hands chopped off. This seems a good measure to me!

- Lee, Enfield

Who do they think they are??

Sack them all and give their jobs to people who DO want to work, but can't because they have lost their jobs due to the recession.

Selfish beyond belief.

- David Brown, London

Bring in legislation as soon as possible to make the Tube an essential, non-strike organisation and get it passed before the Olympics - otherwise the demands of the RMT will be limitless. And well said St! Secret Tube training camps in Poland and/or India is a wonderful idea!

Bob Crow has been itching for a fight with The Mayor as Boris represents everything Crow detests - a Tory and, even worse, AN OLD ETONIAN!! Stick to your guns, BoJo - the majority of London is behind you!

- Sue,Nw4, London

What planet are these guys living on. how can they possibly think £40,000 a year, plus great holidays, is not a fair deal... with pay increases guaranteed for the next two years.
I personally hope they get a pay decrease or get fired for going on strike, as they're job requires no skill anyway. Just get someone else into replace them, as they're obviously spoilt.
No sympathy for them AT ALL

- Max, London

It is time to deal with these Neanderthals once and for all. Tear up all agreements and terminate all relationships with the RMT. Those that want to leave can do so. It will take a few weeks to train up a new workforce but it can be done.

Enough is enough.

- Carl, London

can't we just sack 'em, all of them. it would do 2 things, firstly make the bulk of the RMT reconsider their elected leaders stance and secondly give folk who want to work the chance of a reasonably well paid job with good benefits. it's time they learnt that this isn't the 60's any more.

- Mike Usiskin, London

Richard, London states "The management themselves in my reckoning are the biggest danger facing your average passenger on the network". If this is so and the beef really is with the management then why not strike against them? Why is every single strike about money? Not once does anyone strike against what they presumably have a huge problem with? You're being disingenious even suggesting that the problem are the management when you and your own union call for more and more money year on year when apparently the problem is the management, one can only assume you're talking tosh.

- Bob, Cheam

"Do they not realise the inconvenience that this is causing London commuters..."

Ummm, isn't that the point?

I dunno - it looks a little like the management was getting as little too close to resolving the issue and someone running the strike threw in the extra demands just to keep the strike.

- Rogan, Irving

We simply need to show RMT that we have had enough and that we'll make do without them!
Striking will not get them their own way!

- Milly Bishop, London

The vast majority of Members abstained from voting on this issue - whatever their reasoning, we must call on them to prove the result unrepresentative of their opinon by ignoring the pickets, and keeping London moving.

We should also call on them to turf out the leadership of this union, and bring it back to the role it is supposed to occupy, representing its members, rather than being a posturing base for its leader.

- Nick, London, UK

People do not go on strike on a whim. The banker's and MPs get away with what they like and we are going to pay more tax and have less services.

I pay tax to provide schools hospitals and decent transport among other things.

My children will have less opportunities because of cuts.

To ram these through employers have to break the unions and their members. Remember you are employed to make your employer money. Most of the time this arrangement is sensibly managed.

However when the money has to be found to pay for the mess they make you can bet your life it won't be their assets that will be being taxed.

tpw

- Tonyw, London UK

Ok, sack them all. So who will you get to train up new drivers? The only people licensed to do so are instructors, who are drivers themselves. Don't assume it's just a matter of trainees driving a train simulator somewhere then letting them loose on a tube train with 1000 people on board. It takes weeks and weeks to train someone to competently drive a train, quite apart from the other training that needs to be done. All in all, it takes 6 months or so to train a driver up to the adequate standard to drive a train solo in passenger service. Sack the instructors, and you have a wee problem. And what about the controllers, signalmen.....? Sack all them as well? If that is the standard of opinion of the average Londoner, then their opinions on the merits of this strike are not really going to be high on Bob Crow's list of worries.

- Richard, London

My sister worked for Metronet / the underground for 2 years. She said she was amazed at the lack of work for back office staff and the jobs could be halved - what world are they living in, this could be the straw that breaks the camels back, commuters won't put up for it! BTW don't blame the drivers, aslef is their main union, even if they turn up for work they can't operate trains with no station staff

- Kiran, Lutterworth

It seems extraordinary that a unified transport system has two unions, due to historical reasons only. Also, who was counting the votes? Have a lot gone missing?
There should be a legal quorum, say minimum 50% of electorate, before any vote is valid, and the vote should be held at the workplace under impartial scrutiny.

- Mdj E10, london uk

Bob Crow is living in the past he lives and acts like a bully boy and thinks he living back in the 60,s make the trains all automatic and give the drivers a job that needs just about the same skills to do something like sweeping roads,its bad enough having bankers and MP's robbing us without the RMC jumping on the band wagon.
Bill

- William Berrie, Richmond

Melvyn Windebank - get back to the corner club and spout your silly view there. RMT holding us to ransome wanting 2 people reinstated after getting rightly sacked unless you thing theifing and opening doors on the wrong side of the carriage is ok.

- Phil, London

Richard - "hard working tube drivers", contradiction in terms I think! Plus, this strike is not over the treatment of staff, its over pay, so your comments are irrelevant.

James - are you really trying to compare tube drivers to Firemen?

- A, London

I fully support the strikers and I hope they win. Militant organised labour is the only language that greedy managment and bullying bosses understand.

All you other workers should stop moaning ang get organised yourselves and follow the RMT's fine example.

- John, Brixton

I think the Ronald Reagan solution is right. They earn £40K a year for a 35 hour week. Many on unemployment - a princely £60 A WEEK - would be more than prepared to be retrained to take over. It is time the RMT's ability to hold London to ransom is terminated. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis in living memory and if this is their response, they really don't get it. And for a guy who opened the door on the wrong side of the train, and another who is being investigated for theft? What planet are the on?

- Helene Davidson, London

We on the Victoria Line have already suffered a couple of one-day short-notice strikes recently - were they related to the incompetent who opened the doors on the wrong side?

I'd like to agree with the vast majority of comments. RMT wage demands are outrageous in the current climate. And to then call a strike is so incredibly crass given the current situation, causing even more problems for hard-pressed workers and businesses.

Dave Spart may be able to fiddle a couple of free days holiday, but for most of us it's get to work somehow or take leave or lose pay.

Some way must be found of preventing strikes voted for by such a small percentage of workers. I also agree with making the Tube an 'Essential service' and banning strikes on that service.

Surely there are some decent RMT members? Why not band together and get a motion for Bob Crow's removal - he is doing you no favours at all in the long run.

- Victoria Line Sufferer, London

It doesnt matter what the reasons the decision to stage a mass strike by the workers is nothing short of selfish. Do they not realise the inconvenience that this is causing London commuters and at a time when none of us can afford to be failing to turn up to work? During such a tough economy these people are lucky to be in a job, they will get no sympathy from London commuters!

- Cj, London

Why can't they just all be sacked and replaced? I'm seriously bored of this man and his strikes. There are so many people in this country without a job that would gladly do what Crow and his men don't want to do. Get rid of them! No-one has any sympathy for these people anymore.

- L, London

James London
i would like to see you go into a burning building or cutting a child free from an accident
your comments are are so stupid get a life you sad man

- Terry Chambers, London

It would be illegal to sack them for taking part in a legal strike. If the RMT are expected to comply with the law, so should TfL. You cannot make the rules up as you go along.

As an 'insider' so to speak, the hounding of staff by management is nothing new, and they regularly employ every trick in the book to victimise staff. The management themselves in my reckoning are the biggest danger facing your average passenger on the network- the decisions some of the dunderheads have taken over the years if exposed would cause a huge scandal, and the pressure they put on your average driver to bend rules, regardless of the safety implications, renders most of them unfit for their positions. You would see things far differently if you worked on the inside and saw the provocation workers endure day in, day out at the hands of spiteful and bitter managers. The average Joe in the street is not really in a position to be criticising so strongly the actions of the RMT unless you know the culture of the management behind the scenes, and I can tell you, it's not a pretty sight to see such bitter and disappointed men taking out their anger on hard-working tube drivers. Good luck to the workers, striking is the only weapon in their arsenal that makes the management sit up and take note.

- Richard, London

James
- fireman put their life on the line every time they go to a fire - when did you last do that?

Presumably you have never taken a 'sick' day in your life!!!

- Andy, london

More than 95% of the emails on this page rightly condemn the RMT motivated strike across the Tube network, but I would like to point out that not all the Tube staff should be portrayed as lazy and selfish, which is the common stereotype I admit.
I am fortunate to commute daily from North Harrow station which is on the Metropolitan Line. The staff there are magnificent and they always go well beyond the call of duty to help and assist the passengers, and the man who makes the station announcements every morning rush hour truly 'walks on water' with his commitment to customer service.
I just wanted the rest of London commuters to know that we are very very lucky to have such a brilliantly run station as is North Harrow and if the attitude here was replicated across the whole Underground system, then we would not have this widespread disregard for us, the perpetually picked on fare paying passengers.
The RMT are an outright disgrace!

- Jenny Robinson, North Harrow, Middlesex

As a side observation, the first time I used an automated train was travelling on the Docklands light railway. I got on, driver was sat at front, we pulled off, everything was ok I thought.

Then he got up and walked off as the train was travelling along and I thought "hey..get back and steer this thing"

Scared the buggery out of me until I realised what was going on. Point being I didn't get killed in a train crash. So Boris, if you are reading these comments, why not push the automated systems through and tell Crow and his cronies where to get off?

- Londoner, London, England

Bob Crow must be related to Fred Goodwin, both are no better than vultures on the british backside. RMT are a Joke union. Sack anyone that protests

- Ge, Kernow

Firemen get plenty of money and spend much of their time sleeping on night shift. They often get early pensions on dubious medical grounds as well. That's why there are 40 applicants per place.

- James, London, UK

Mr Hendy. Please make a statement retracting the pay offer if the RMT go on strike tonight. After the strike offer a 0.5% pay rise. If they strike again, then offer a 0% payrise. It won't take long for that abusive thug Bob Crow to realise that his members won't back another strike if they end up getting nothing and losing a few days pay. And the government should change the rules so that 90% of members have to vote for a strike to carry, allowing a 20% of the hardcore Bob Crow(nies) to dictate strike policy is absurd.

- Ag, London Village

Melvyn Windbag seems to have no understanding of how organisations work. Tube employeee and their unions negotiate with their management/employer not the Mayor of London. Bob will be asking to neogotiate with the Queen next! We need to follow Mrs Thatcher's lead in quashing the miners and let them strike whilst we train replacements on more appropriate contracts. It's our money that funds the generous packages enjoyed up to now by tube workers. In the current climate we need better value. We can no longer afford to fund a Final Salary Pension scheme. It may be painful in the short term but once the RMT has been consigned to history we can start moving forward to a new era on the tube.

- Richy London, London

The RMT and their members are just as bad as the bankers and MP's that have brought this country to its knees. Selfish and greedy, their only thought is to take whatever they can for themselves. Utter scum.

- Robin, London

This just shows the unions for what they are, everyone working for the privbate sector is worried about their job security and these guys carry on with their ridiculous demands for better conditions and to reinstate two people who have been dismissed according to agreed procedures. One who clearly breached safety regulations. Seems strange that previous strike threats were over safety concerns! but when it suits it's the other way around!

- Anon, Durban, South Africa

It will be worse when the Olympics is on and they hold London to ransom. The solution is to copy what Reagan did with the striking air traffic controllers in the US in the 80`s. They should be given the ultimatum that anyone who doesn`t turn up for work will be sacked, and follow it through. Yes, there will be some initial disruption but it will put an end to their games, as it did in the US.

- Nickspurs, London

I am a driver, and if these reports are correct, am appalled that Bob Crow has seemingly scuppered a deal by throwing in the reinstatement of 2 members when this is clearly an issue that should be dealt with outside the pay talks. The bad LUL management, however, are not without blame, they have got the union they deserve. Both sides need to stop behaving like children, do a reasonable deal and stop this damaging strike.

- Dave B, Essex

It's disappointing that the vast majority of RMT members care so little for other Londoners that they sit on their hands and not vote while Bob Crow and his "demented" sidekicks abuse commuters for their personal gain. When you think of how much firemen and nurses get paid it's disgusting.

- Mercurius, London, UK

Dear complaining hard done by strikers....hope you dont get any payrise at all let alone a job guarantee!! What about everyone else huh?? If you dont like it, then you know what to do...leave your job and give it to one of at least 50 people that want it!

Dear Boris, hope you dont give these people anything they want..nothing at all...retract your payrise offer. Infact let them strike and see how much sympathy they get - it will only bring them more dislike (putting it politely) to their "cause"...Tomorrow I am happy to combine a couple of bus journeys and a nice long walk so these people dont get what they want...could do with a bit of fresh air anyway....

- Emma J, London

What a shame uncle Bob did not wait until the Artic buses had been withdrawn from the 2 Red Arrow routes then we would have seen the folly of NOGO BOJO!

And still the Mayor of London who is Chair of TFL refuses to meet leaders of unions that represent TFL workers.

As for talk of extra Buses, has Boris spoke to the leaders of the bus drivers union about this?

The collapse of Metronet was bound to lead to this situation re over supply of staff but old fashioned Union Bashing as practised by Thatcher and now Boris wont solve the problem. It just shows people who are totally out of the depth when it comes to management skills.

As for those who complain about the rights Bob has won for his members. Well you chose not to join a union and allowed Thatcher to walk all over you so dont moan now the chickens of your support of her have come home to roost...

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

Like a lot of people, I am extremely angry with this pointless strike action. I have not had a payrise in 2 years, I have no job security and worst of all, I don't get paid if I don't work so is the RMT going to compensate me for loss of earnings????? Get real RMT, everybody is struggling at this time.

- Cf, London, N22

Sack the lot of them! Employ new staff with special key-service contracts that tie them to different dispute resolution procedure that don't allow them to disrupt our economy.

- Andy, Sack?

Bob Crow is just another fat cat. He produces nothing, earns a huge salary to sit in an office making decisions that impact the lives of many and had no consideration to what this means to the ordinary working person just trying to get to their place of work, or worse, those with hospital appointments etc.
It's so nice and easy for Bob, though. Don't getyyour own wat, go on strike, blame someone else, and let the rest of us pick up the pieces - and then use the underground that you don't even run to vicariously pursue your power trip.
I'm glad so many are backing LU and Boris. This is going to be very inconvenient, but it's got to be worth it to teach these lot a lesson for the long term or this will just go on and on.

- R Webster, London, England

Re-instate a liar..wonderful, just wonderful. Once again we show the rest of the world that we have an organisation staffing a public service that condones these types of actions. What does that say to the general public, that their (RMT) so called Health & Safety concerns are unjust as it's really down to incompetent drivers and we've got an overpaid idiot like Crow backing them. But Crow, like Livingston, is too arrogant to see that they could do no wrong. As for the pay rise...for what, standing at a gate all day chatting with mates and colleagues...you ask them a question and it's like 'what, you actually dare to interupt me chatting with my colleagues' as for the drivers, come on, how difficult is it to hold a dead-man's lever and how much do these people get paid and then there's the question of holidays...
I'm personally sick and tired of the lack of service we receive from public workers, if they don't like their job go find a job elsewhere. In the meantime, get used to the fact that we all affected by the recession and I for one had to accept a pay cut to ensure I retained my current job, I don't like it, but it's a damn site better than being unemployed.
Better still, sack all those who decide to strike and replace them with our European friends.

- Alan, East London

yes "he should keep quiet, it's not his business overhere" so what? BUT, I don't blame the Unions, they are not unlike little children, they will try and "get away" with as much as they can do. When mother and father are weak, the children will stamp their little feet, cry and even spat at the parents until they get their way. This will go on UNTIL mother and father act like MOTHER AND FATHER, grab the childrens ears, drop the childrens pants and spank the kids. Mother and Father MUST make sure that THEY are the parents and NOT the children. Your Union, like ours here in America, truly DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE COUNTRY, the leaders of the Unions, and many inside, only want the money and power. The Unions, like many company management, simply DO NOT CARE about the real people, the honest, hardworking people, many of whom are in the Unions, they vast majority who are not. The Unions will alwasy use threats and intimidation,,,,,, I say SCREW THEM,, or as the English say to "piss off." Let them cry, spit and stamp their little feet,, time for the real people to stand up. Yes, they country will lose money and some may even lose their jobs but the Unions are nothing more than leeches, but there are many good people in the Unions and that cannot be forgotten. But these people too need to take a standand remove the leeches,, they're sucking your country, likeover here, dry. Exactly, who is running our countries? Time for you to be the parent!

- Jim Samms, Florida USA

What planet are these guys on? A 5% pay rise for doing what exactly? Where I work there has been a pay freeze on for all of this year, and the prospects of it lifting are slim. But we all understand why it needs to happen. As a country we are in a bit of a hole and it is down to all of us to pull together to get through the bad times.

It is just pathetic that the RMT and in particular the execrable Bob Crow have chosen to take this action. It just shows how out of touch the militant union movement is. So it is welcome to the ranks of the greedy and selfish populated until now by bankers and MP's to all you RMT members. There will be no sympathy for you from the vast majority of Londoners, and we will remember this.

Come on Boris, stop these morons from being able to hold a gun to London's head.

Automated trains would be an elegant solution...

- Jerry, London, UK

excellent idea St, London .... i mean how difficult can it be???? i'm sure there are plent of unemployed in the UK who would be happy to do the job too. Sack the lot of them and start again.

- Rh, london

If they go on strike, sack them. While they queue to get employed again without the RMT and at a more reasonable wage when every one else is also dealing with cuts in salary, use the money saved and an empty network to complete 3 years engineering work in less that a month. One month's pain is better than the continuing disruption over the next few years while waiting for the essential engineering work to be completed or whilst it is being done. Also, pulls the teeth from Bob Crow and the RMT who have much too much power in this day and age.

- David, Edgware, NW London

Once again, a relic (Mr Crow) from the 1970s is allowed to inflict chaos on this country's capital city, and millions of people. Roll on the Tory government; hopefully he will be smashed in the same way Scargill was two decades ago.

- Steven Davidson, Colchester, England

Come on RMT members, ignore this stupid strike call and show a bit of solidarity with the rest of us struggling to keep our jobs and to make ends meet.

Be warned, if you carry on following your crazy, politically-motivated dinosaur of a leader, you will eventually regret it.

- Simon, London

We have one of the finest judiciary systems in the world. Surely there must be a legal route to prevent this strike and relieve Crow of his position.

- Patricia, LONDON

IF these men did the deeds that has been alleged here then why should they remain in a job? I really do not want to be on a tube train where my health and safety is put at risk because of the poor work standards of the driver.

It would appear that other drivers are prepared to walk out over such events, putting thousand's of Londoners at risk of losing their jobs (many are teetering on the edge without this) then they do not have my respect or support (and there have been times when I have supported the stance taken by tube drivers).

- Andy, london

Ahhhhhh Big Bob, it is a true joy to see that you have pulled your much loved strike card with such poor justification, member and public support...

Where exactly have you been for the last year? Who advised you that this was a good idea? Are you now starting to get the feeling you are being used for something?

Please stand back and have a think for just 30 seconds about how this action will affect London, your organisation and your personal credibility here forward.

The world is moving forward into a new era and unfortunately for you, the tools that worked in the past just wont exist very soon.

- Lrdp, London, UK

I fail to see how this can be allowed to happen. If I, or any of my colleagues committed a serious disciplinary offence, we would face the consequences. We have had sackings and numerous redundancies recently - did we have the right to just walk out and demand they are reinstated - NO. We have had no pay rise - and understand why, some have had bonuses frozen - we understand why. These people need to wake up and live in the real world.

Soon the day will come when the demented Bob Crow will get his come uppance - I can't wait to see the vile man put in his place.

Don't worry though, you scumbags, we will still all get to work, and show you how pointless your strike is.

Thanks

- Jamie, London

I hope Bob Crow and the RMT union members know how little public support they have for this selfish action. The disruption if this goes ahead will cost the London economy millions of pounds at a time of dire economic need.

Almost every business is suffering from redundancies and pay freezes why he thinks the RMT members should be immune from a global economic crises is beyond me. If a protest is organised outside Unity House I will be there in a flash - well, as soon as my bus can get me there as I presume the tubes will not be running on that day...

- Emma, London, UK

Calm down, why all the aggro, surely you should all be welcoming the chance of a bonus couple of days holiday. I know I am - will be leaving work early today, just to be on the safe side, and will not be in again until Friday afternoon, or maybe Monday next week - "Working" what what hey hey.

I owe you one Bob - loving your work, or rather your refusal to work

- Dave Spart, London

I am one of the hated tube drivers! All drivers i have spoken to do not agree with the strike! Most drivers are in Aslef and in my 6 years of driving to my knowledge Aslef haven't been out on strike! The RMT are the union for signallers, station staff and depot staff! I and my fellow drivers will be at work today, tomorrow and thursday.

- Stuart, corringham essex

Bob Crowe always calls a strike when England play so he and his yobbo mates can watch the game. They make up whatever excuse they can think of and then pile on the bs. Ken used to bend over and take it and I am very glad that Boris is not.

Safety issues are one thing but uinlimited pay increases and reinstating criminals are another.

- Bruce, London

unlike some other posters, I think 95% of Londoners have no sympathy for the strikers. Back office staff, they do not have enough work to go round! 2/3 staff per job, meeting about meetings, we all know about the pay the drivers get. Time to sort this out once and for all, everyone is tightening belts and talking little, none or even pay cuts, the staff should be made to re-apply for their jobs, overpaid and underworked

- Sukh, ilford

They are Greedy & Ungrateful...Sack them all!!

- Hs, London

To cause this kind of chaos is unforgivable.

I am imagine a number of those tube staff have children and others relatives whose journey will be disrupted.

Then with all the normal track closures at weekends these folks rarely work a full week!

Imagine you herberts getting free travel on the network and the rest of us having to pay for it.

Where's the Minister of Transport and the Govt when we need them to step in? Worried about their own jobs I imagine.

RMT should be sued by the business community for loss of earnings.

- Gary, London

Can not be for lying about safty checks and opening the doors on the wrong side - who do these tube drivers think they are - Labour Ministers and MPs???

- Jeremy E, Home Counties

In your lunch hour, why not assemble at RMT and show Bob Crow your displeasure.

Unity House
39 Chalton Street
London NW1 1JD

Bob, London is here and they're unhappy...

- Hawker, London

Any worker that backs the drivers that were sacked and goes on strick will be producing proof that they are stupid and untrustworthy and should also be sacked with no payout whatsoever.

- Pan, london

There aren’t the words to express the contempt I have for Crow. He simply cannot wait for the slightest opportunity to call for walk out (which incidentally wont require him to forfeit any of his six figure salary). He relishes the chance to cause the maximum amount of irritation and disruption to the general public. He cannot be allowed to continually hold London to ransom. He needs to be broken to the same way Scargall was. The question is how.

- Simon, London

This should be given it's proper name - blackmail! The RMT are trying to blackmail London Underground and the Mayor into giving them money.

I feel very sorry for the bus and train drivers who will have to bear the brunt of this selfish unnecessary behaviour over the next couple of days.

- Steve Doggett, London

Boris’ unprecedented “Keep London Moving” campaign is a wonderful idea – good stuff Boris, I’m looking forward to getting the old bike out of the shed for a ride in tomorrow, I could do with the exercise!

Meanwhile, I hope you are implementing my suggestion of a secret tube workers training facility in Poland or India so that we have an army of substitutes ready to go!

- St, London

How much does Bob Crow earn while the men are all on strike?

How much does Bob Crow earn each year and what does he claim in expenses?

- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK

can't we go to london zoo, hire a load of monkeys and sack all the drivers. the monkeys could drive the trains after a couple of hours training and we could pay them in bananas instead of a ridiculous wage. they wouldn't strike and probably wouldn't steal or open the doors on the wrong side of the platform...

- Jonathan Hill, enfield

Once again we are held to ransom because 2 people quite rightly get sacked from their jobs. Typical Bob Crow actions. My only criticism of the way this has been handled is that Ken Livingstone used to get involved but as usual ham fisted Boris is refusing to get involved and just shouting words like "demented" from the sidelines.

- Andrew, St. John's Wood, London

So next time, when the RMT is off on yet another strike this time due to "safety concerns", which I am sure is not too far off, perhaps they should remember that they themselves are the cause of some of these safety concerns, in the two guys they wanted reinstated - the same two guys who were suspended due to real safety concerns; I don't think anybody would consider opening the train doors on the wrong side of a station platform a "small matter" and then lying about it, and theft is, last time I checked, a criminal offence.

- R G, London, London, England

Parliament should create legislation to ban strikes by tfl, unless for v good reasons - ie health and safety.

Therefore, the next time they strike, it will be unofficial and the whole lot of them can be legally sacked.

At the same time, there are 2 million people looking for work, who would do the job for 20k a year, rather than 20+k. The whole saga is pathetic.

Perhaps I should take over from Tim o'Toole?

- Ray Farago, London

"With 10,000 staff eligible to vote, 2,810 supported strike action with 488 against. The remainder did not vote."

To the idiots sitting on the fence. You just let a militant minority decide your fate. Thank you to the 488 who voted against this pointless strike.

Frustrated commuter.

- Andrew Hunter, London

Boris: do NOT give in to these lazy RMT militants. At least 80% of London is behind you!

Well Said Kate, Harrow, London, UK I have just had to take a 10% cut so should the public sector

- Gary, Brentwood 1

i am a bus service controller and will be at the already buisy victoria station this afternoon/evening and yet again our buses will take the brunt of the chaos caused by these already overpaid but underworked tube staff;our drivers will be forced to drive frustrated passengers who will have to wait ages to get on a bus- not because they are late but because of overcrowding and chaos at the stops. its always the buses that bail out the trains when they strike so please passengers do not take out your frustrations on the drivers, they will do their best as always, on a lot less money and more hours than the trains to cover the work

- Darren Vanderson, hornchurch,essex

Everyone who strikes should be SACKED. People all over this country are taking pay cut and having pay freezes. There are plenty on people who have been made redundant and would gladly take their jobs. SACK THE LOT!!!

- Hazel, London

Destroy the Union, they are going to strike regardless.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

Boris needs to face down this idiotic union Miners-Strike-style and defeat them once and for all. If we really think of how we can do this we can win against them. Surely scrapping the C Charge during the strikes should be considered and land sought for temporary car parking? This would be fine for a few days if need be and would be an additional help.

- Huw Morgan, London

I moved to London, only 4-5 months back from California, and everything was fine until this strike. I am not sure why nicely paid RMT members, want a hike in this recession. And then to hold to ransom Londoners for no fault of theirs is sort of pathetic. They should be thrown out of their nice, cushy jobs and sent into the job market for taking undue advantage of Lodoners.

- Naik, London

In my experience using the underground involves having to deal on a daily basis with rude, surly and unhelpful staff. Now they are going on strike to defend a danger to the public ( lied about safety checks) and a thief?

Are these people for real?

- Londoner, London, England

Why are the union members not voting? Yet when they want union representation, they milk it for all they can. Don't belong to a union if you are not willing to support and be part of it. There is a lot more to this strike, than just pay matters.

- Triffidqueen, Desk in London

I have no sympathy for these people who get paid higher than most of our key workers and require a little skill to move a level back and forth. They are living in alternate reality. We are in recession, we have deflation, whole businesses going under and we have highest unemployed for ten years. I say fire the lot of them and rehire those people who have lost there jobs and want to work, with a reasonable salary. I despise these leeches sooner we automate the tube the better.

- John, UK, London

Automate the tubes, and sack most of them. Sure, it will take some investment, but imagine a London not being held captive by a bunch of lazy workers. It should be cheaper than the olympics and unlike the olympics would be a real investment in London.

- Sarath Palety, Aylesbury, UK

I dare say that this strike will cause some struggling businesses to go over the edge and go into administration. Tube drivers, you have just cost the livelihoods, homes and security for many people - well done, how selfish and short-sighted of you.

Bob Crow, you are a mindless thug. Try thinking it through and decide if this is worse than over endulging your expenses??? Just keep holding them to ransom until they pay up.

The idea of trying to reinstate people sacked for gross misconduct shows that they have no real concern for "safety". They are really only interested in jobs for the boys. There are many unemployed who could do your job and would gladly do it for less money.

you are a shallow, small-minded, greedy, self engrandising, petulant bunch of fools. The next time you want me to be polite on the tube, you can get stuffed!

- Jon, london,England

RMT = Life on Mars.
There are some aspects of the 70's I do not miss, but the RMT like to remind us.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke

why don't we all get taxi's tomorrow then sue Bob Crow and the RMT to get the cost back.

If the public shoe their displeasure and bankrupt the union then they won't be able to disrupt our travel again with actions like this!

- Salli, London

Sack the lot of them! How dare they hold us Londoners to ransom like this? There are plenty of people out there who would be grateful to have such well paid and protected jobs. Bob Crow is surely the most hated man in London.

- Shelley, London

I can still recall the almost annual misery of transport strikes when I lived in London for over 30 years, and the struggle to work, which became even less attractive as I got older. Tube workers strike because they can. It just beats me why they haven't been taken to task yet. I feel sorry for long-suffering commuters, but I don't miss London one bit, particularly when such behaviour is still permitted to continue. You can bet they will be eyeing the 2012 Olympics as a target, that'll be fun.

- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK

quite simple, if they refuse the pay deal and strike, then the deal should be retracted and they can work the next 2 years with no pay rise
always ultimately about 'unfair' dismissals isnt it. unfair dismissals? no, those would be handled by industrial tribunal. rmt are nasty little bully boys.

- Vic, london

There are plenty of unemployed graduates around who would jumpt at the chance of not only a nice summer job here but maybe also a brilliantly paid career!

- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK

QUITE SIMPLY BAN STRIKES IN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICES. AFTER-ALL THE RMT WOULD BE HORRIFIED IF THE POLICE WENT ON STRIKE PROTECTING THEIR STAFF FROM THE PUBLICS FURY, OR HOSPITALS REFUSED TO THEAT HIS MEMBERS SAYING THEY WANTED MORE PAY. CONTRAST THE PAY OF A TRAIN DRIVER, REPORTED TO BE APPROX£40 000 A YEAR, PLUS 43 DAYS HOLIDAY WITH THE PAY OF A SOLDIER RISKING HIS LIFE
WHICK IS UNDER HALF.

- Alan Green, Woodford Green

Boris: do NOT give in to these lazy RMT militants. At least 80% of London is behind you!

Play hardball. Every day they insist on this farce, CUT their wages deal, and fire tube staff to cover the cost of the strike!

How dare they ask for pay rises when everyone else is London is getting fired and having wages cut. There is no such thing as a job for life, why should they be special? Just because they want to watch a football match.

I will happily travel by bus for a few weeks if this is dealt with decisively once and for all.

- Kate, Harrow, London, UK

"The strike will now go ahead and we expect it to be solidly supported."
Of course it will, they need the time off, England are playing tommorrow night, and Thursday morning is hangover time. Isn't it amazing that the strikes always happen when England are playing football?

- Bob, Cheam

I would have to give the blame on Boris and TFL fat cats, these members of staff are entitled to job security and a pay rise to the rate of inflation.
They are so right to strike it is you who should be listening and its you who are causing the chaos in london for the next few days.

Commuters are going to take the brunt thats if they bother turning up for work that is losing business time and money that in this climate they need.

You have people who are travelling to music concerts like myself who will miss part of my concert, Would you give us compensation for that?

You have the England football match on Wednesday that will result in lower attendance so a loss of more income.

It makes me angry that you Boris and those TFL fat cats wont give what they deserve to also make lives and companies suffer.

And another thing is there going to be compensation for annual gold card owners as i am sure within the conditions of carraige they are failing in there duty of travel?

So i finish on saying Boris & TFL get listening and think about what disruption you are causing and Boris remember who elected you.

Thanks for your kind attention.

- Wayne Tearle, Witham England

How about we train thousands of monkeys to do their job, saving the taxpayer thousands, of which we can use to cover MP's future expenses.

On a serious note, what about the many doctors and nurses, who will now struggle to get into work, causing postponments and cancellations of operations, etc. The Police Officers who will now be unable to attend crimes. The list goes on.

The LU should not give in to these ridiculous demands from the RMT!

- Daniel W, Chingford

Tube drivers already earn 42k a year for doing very little, not really a skill requiring a degree. Unions are allowed to abuse people working in London.

- Gary, Brentwood 1

As a friend of mine so rightly put it, LU workers should be prosecuted for holding an entire city to ransom.

- Anon, London

Thank you scum bags for going on strike yet again and holding all Londoners and many many others to ransom over your claims.

Many of us have had to accept a small increase in salary or none had all. Many others have lost their jobs.

My mum who is 56 will, like many others struggle into work in the West End tomorrow and Thursday.

I have to try and get to St Paul’s in the City.

I cannot express how angry I am that millions of us are being put in this position again by the underground workers and the union.

- Lee Duncan, London

WHAT ABOUT THE ROAD CONGESTION CHARGES WITHIN LONDON ARE THEY TO BE ENFORCED OR CANCELLED FOR THE PERIOD OF THE STRIKE!!!!!!

- European, Hong Kong China

As if having to go to work isn't bad enough we've now got this to contend with.

- Steve, London

I've yet to understand why policemen get paid so much more than fully trained nurses, but the pay for train drivers beats them all, and that's obscene and totally unjustified. I'd say withdraw the pay offer and let them strike until they give up and like toddlers, finally learn to live within decent limits.

- Nat E, London, UK

Hopefully when we get a proper government they'll finish off these RMT dinosaurs once & for all.

- Cr, london

Unbelievable!! How do they get away with these strikes every so many months when the rest of the world are dealing with a Recession!!?? Why should they get a Pay increase when there are Redundancies and company closures going on all around them....Like many of us they should just be thankful to still be in employment in these difficult times!! The Union leaders are just taking the P*ss and lining their own pockets and disrupting everyone's everyday life which is all they are interested in!!
If they are not Happy with what they earn and their working conditions then go and look for another job like we all have to do at some point in our lives!! Let people who really want to work and are Happy to have a job have an opportunity......

- Dave, London

Well once again a small minority of militant workshy tube 'workers' will be holding London to ransom, wanting to to improve their pay & conditions when for many of the rest of us, both have been adversly affected by the worst recession in a generation. It beggars beleif that they can be so arrogant and self centred when the rest of us are suffering. Isn't it about time that the tube workers were added to the list of those not able to strike?

- Teddington Traveller, Teddington

Politicians steal our money and Unions steal our time. If I were in either camp I would think carefully about continually poking an already frustrated public. If you dont care about serving us then you might want to consider finding alternative employment or else risk facing our wrath in the future. I am getting very angry.

- John Entwistle, Hertford

I cannot believe this strike is going ahead during a time of such dire financial situation in the UK. People are losing jobs and business's struggling to survive, this strike action will win no sympathy its outrageous!The general public use the transport to get to & from work and this is who it will affect, they are the ones being used in this battle.The Union is completely irresponsible.

- Lilly, london uk

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