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Tube unions at war over strike
Dick Murray10.06.09
A war broke out between two Tube unions this afternoon as a strike failed to bring the network to a halt.
The 48-hour stoppage called by the RMT was described as wrong by the leader of rival union Aslef who said his members would be crossing picket lines for the first time.
RMT leader Bob Crow insisted the strike was "solid" but trains still ran on the Victoria line, his union's stronghold, as well as eight other lines, although some were restricted shuttle services. This afternoon 140 out of 420 trains were running.
Commuters walked, cycled, took Thames boats, shared taxis or used extra buses laid on to beat the strike on their way in and for the journey home tonight. Traffic on the roads was heavier as more people drove to work.
Aslef, which represents 40 per cent of Tube drivers, condemned the RMT strike as "premature" because the dispute over pay and job losses could have been settled by negotiation.
Aslef revealed it had ignored repeated attempts by the RMT to persuade it to join the industrial action.
Around 150,000 London commuters failed to make it into work, according to initial estimates, which is about one in 10 of the normal 1.5 million who travel to work in central London each day.
If the dispute drags on for 48 hours and spills over into Friday the cost to London could hit £85 million.
The loss to West End stores alone is estimated at £25 million with around 100,000 fewer shoppers than usual.
Boris Johnson said: "It is quite simply outrageous for the leadership of the RMT to ask their members, the majority of whom did not vote for this strike, to take part in this ludicrous and unnecessary disruption to our city."
Peace talks appeared imminent this afternoon. Mr Crow told Mr Johnson he was willing to meet him "any time" to try to settle the dispute.
Tube bosses also said they desperately wanted to get back round the negotiating table.
Transport commissioner Peter Hendy said support for the strike was "far from the level" being predicted by the RMT leadership and praised those staff who have turned up to work "to keep London moving".
Mr Hendy added: "We urge everyone travelling in and around London during the strike to check before you travel and to consider the wide range of alternative travel options."
As the war of words between the two unions continued, one Northern line Tube driver and member of Aslef said his union was in its own negotiations over pay.
He criticised Mr Crow, saying he had acted rashly. The driver, who asked not be named, said the RMT was a separate union and they simply did not want to get involved. He said: "Bob Crow has jumped the gun again."
Keith Norman, general secretary of Aslef, said: "Our members are not involved in this dispute. We believe this dispute can be solved through negotiation. The fact that so many Aslef drivers have turned up for work today is highly significant.
"In the past Aslef drivers would have refused to cross picket lines in support of a rival union. This is evidently not the case today."
Mr Crow ordered his 10,000 members to walk out from 7pm last night. The strike was originally over a pay deal and demands to avoid compulsory redundancies as thousands of jobs are slashed in a cost-cutting programme.
Mr Crow this afternoon accused London Underground management of "dishonesty" over the breakdown of talks last night.
In a letter to TfL he said he had been confident they had a basis for a deal but that the management team reneged on it before the agreement could be typed up — 25 minutes before the strike deadline.
He described as an "out and out lie" claims that the RMT were only interested in the reinstatement of two sacked drivers.
Ken Livingstone said Mr Johnson was at fault because he had not met the RMT leaders or addressed the issue earlier.
He said: "He's got to talk to them and make his position clear."
Additional reporting: Katharine Barney, Paul Waugh, Danny Brierley, Benedict Moore-Bridger and Peter Dominiczak
Reader views (99)
Sophie, I'm hoping that your 'A' Level English exam was literature because your use of the English language is appalling.
- Bob, Cheam
train drive making 36k a year, two kids losing there jobs
i have a family to feed i have to go in to work
thank you train drivers i have lost my job
cheers
- Sir Said Aden, london
The staff who work on the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) earn £17k (DLR trains are automated, but they can drive trains when needed). Also, bus drivers get £20k per year. So why is it that Tube staff are on £40k+free travel?.
They should stop this £40k salary for new train drivers.
Their high pay deal was from the time when trains had both a 'guard' and a 'driver'. So in order to agree to do both jobs, they got a high salary, but despite this they keep striking to get inflation busting pay rises.
They are looking like fat cats in comparison to people who do similar jobs.
London train fares are some of the highest in the world!
- Rk, London
! must say i was impressed by the help i recieved from BR staff today, i also saw lots of london underground staff helping some bemused travellers along. well done one and all... about time the RMT members realised their union is led by a selfish wally who thinks hes doing them a favour... wise up guys and girls. you hardly have the peoples support! stop your leader making fools of you and get back to work while you can!!!
- Busby Bear, surrey
Lecsm19:
Your comment about skill in using Microsoft Train Simulator is utter tosh! I suppose when BALPA call their next strike, you will say that anyone who has used the Flight Simulator game can fly a 767?
- Steve, Calgary, Canada
you people make me sick, first of all you are even lucky to have a job....the fact that it is so well paid is beyond me, you guys have a job that require absoultly no skill to perform, any idiot can press a a "go" button.
How can you complain and strike at a time like this? people would do anything for a job nowadays, especially ones with such great benefits. You are greedy, evil people and I hate you all. I think you should all be sacked and then you will regret throwing it all away.
i'll have you know that doctors, who go through years of medical school, and who are debt ridden by the time they graduate, onl earn £21000 (gross income) at first. SO WHY ARE YOU COMPLAINING. THEY GET NO BENEFITS LIKE YOU, FREE TRANSPORT ETC.
STOP COMPLAINING, GET ON WITH YOUR JOBS, YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE LUCKY TO EVEN LIVE IN A COUNTRY LIKE THIS. STOP BEING IDIOTS. I HATE YOU
- Kat, london
Can see a lot of people still moaning about unemployment.
There are jobs out there, just not the kind of job people want, it is easier to complain than really do something. Well, I guess on a country where living out of government hand outs is seen as normal you cant expect much anyway.
Most of the DRIVERS turned up to clock in today, why people still use the drivers as a symbol of this strike? How about the rest of the staff?
Leave the drivers alone and stop moaning !!!!!!!!
- Xxx, islington
Sophie, London.
I hope your exam wasn't in English as the spelling of "there" in your letter twice should have been "their" or perhaps that was caused by stress as well! However, I hope you passed yur 'A' level anyway regardless of the upheaval in London today. I too had to walk instead of the tube today. No fun but needs must!
- Jan, London
i agree with haskey, if RMT are not subdued before 2012 chaos will be order of the day
- Paul Scott, brentwood
I am an A LEVEL student living in london, my younger brother is taking his GCSEs. He had to get up at 5.30 to get into school on time for his French GCSE and my aunty drove me into my 2 and a half hour English A LEVEL paper. We both walked over an hour home after these exams. I really think that people need to think about the effects this has had on over a million school and university students taking exams today in London. I don't care about the strike, but it made a stressful day twenty times more stressful. Almost half of my class was late, I don't know what that will mean in terms of there results but it may have cost them a place at there first choice university.
- Sophie, LONDON
I am reminded of that line from a song in Lionel Bart's muasical Oliver!
"I think I'd better think it out again"...
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Mildenhall, Suffolk.
President Reagan did it with the Air Traffic Controllers. Prime Minister Thatcher did it with the NUM miners. Will Prime Minister Cameron have the cohones to do the same to the RMT?
Take the money saved by not paying the strikers and use it to pay for more bus drivers. call their bluff. Indefinitly. They need to be broken now, otherwise they will hold us hostage during the 2012 Olympics.
- Haskey, London
To Colin, London.
Yes we are in a recession, yes we are upset that about the MP's expenses and yes we are upset about the banks.
However the workers of the underground have a public duty and a responsibility to the public. Just like everyone working in the public arena.
The actions of the RMT are impacting those people who they are meant to serve. These are individuals who are trying to make a living, i.e. going to work. Students who trying to make a future for themselves, i.e those taking their A'level exams, etc.
This not about the RMT standing up for themselves. Even ASLEF, another union who could probably do more damage than the RMT, don't agree with this strike. All this shows is that RMT (& Mr Bob "£80K+expenses" Crow) only care about themselves and are further distancing themselves from public. Why doesn't he take a pay cut and so others can get a pay rise? That is the true showing of a leader. Not someone who uses the people he is meant to be protecting as a barrier.
- Raj, Buckinghamshire
For all those that navigated the TLF site - where did I go wrong?
Usually go from Ealing Broadway - station suspended - checked TFL site and it said Picadilly Line operating but expect delays.
Spend another 25 mins heading to Picadilly Station in Northfields and station closed!!!
Can someone please advise how they got from this part of West London into town (I need to be around Chelsea area)?
Definatley going to buy a new set of roller skates as cheaper than losing a days pay!
- Theresa, London
Well its nice to know that Brotherly Love in the Union movement is breaking out again, just like in the Good old Bad old Days of the 1970s.
Cheer up Mr Crow. Pa Broone might offer you a Peerage, after all the House of Lords will need packing with Labour Placemen again soon.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK
Pat New Malden
Tell your son to take the overground from New Malden to Wimbledon and jump on the District line to High Street Kensington. The service was running fine today although you may want to check in the morning.
- David, London
You people have very short memories!!, you have MP`s and banks ripping us workers off, but as soon as some workers stand-up for what they feel is right you moan like squealing hogs!!, I am all for the strike, my company's union is crap and if you/we had a union that was as strong as RMT, YOU wouldn't say no to a pay rise and conditions that are justified in the job you do.....All of you moaning should get your head out of the sand and stop rolling-over when told to by your bosses, it makes me sick to read these comments, it just shows how weak we are and nothing but a nation of MOANERS
- Colin, london
The usual comments from those so ignorant of the facts.Less that 1500 of the 10,000 RMT members of the underground are drivers.Hence the number of trains running driven by ASLEF bootlickers.
- Colin, barking essex
My son has an A level exam tomorrow morning and has to be in High Street Kensington by 8.15am. Lots of school kids and students will also have exams in the morning and will have enormous difficulties in getting in on time. I am planning to drive in very early (about 6.00am) to make sure he gets to the exam centre on time. Thanks a bunch Mr Crow
- Pat, New Malden
Maya, London - Profit...aaaahhh you must mean the £40 million that TfL lost in the Icelandic banking crash. Fact. That is not the workers fault but those wonderful bankers I'm sure you also hate and the poor decisons made by senior managment within TfL. The very people who also will not take redundancies but trim from the grass roots. This in turn will lead to all the nice people at TfL that answer the phones, reply to your letters and process your refund claims to loose their jobs meaning you get a worse service. Perhaps a review of TfLs structure is needed and redundancies carried out. From my experience there are too many chiefs and not enough indians at TfL.
As for profit...think TfL might struggle with this seeing as the area of the business responsible for generating this has already had a cull of it's staff. As you say TfL need to make a profit to keep it's staff so what is the sense in cutting this area of the business back?
- Rob, London
Underground Tube workers your really are not the ONLY ones in this redundancies crisis, because wake up its happening all over the world with this recession. Those on strike should be even be lucky to still have a job.
- Chole, London
Why does Ken Livingstone think that Boris Johnson should have met the RMT leaders? And who cares what Ken thinks - he was a disaster! Boris is the mayor - the political head. Surely any negotiation should be between LU management and the workers/representitives. Shame on the majority of RMT members who did not vote - you could have stopped this!
- Richy London, London
So the LU workers can't even organise a strike!
- Travel, London
This strike is a joke and seriously puts at risk the goodwill of Londoners, which is quite vital to the smooth operation of our Tube, given all its many faults and snags.
The RMT are out of order. Decent people are losing their jobs and their homes these days and yet the RMT want more, more, more. It's wrong. They need to think again.
- Fedup, London, UK
Just had the easiest and most comfortable tube journeys ever.
Jubilee line from Stratford to Waterloo, Northern line from Waterloo to Tottenham Court Road and back again. Even got a seat at 7.30am this morning which never happens.
- David, London
Anyone who has played Microsoft Train Simulator will know driving a tube train is a complete doddle, but nice work if you can get it!
- Lescm19, Essex
They need to make redundancies, easy solution - get rid of the ones on strike, keep the Aslef lot. Job done.
- D.W., London
Scotty - which station are you getting into - use this site - should tell you what routes are available: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/
- Jay, London, UK
Scotty, best course of action is to check the TFL site int he morning it will give you guidance as to the best way to travel from one point to another. Also by tomorrow more tubes could be running as I think Mr Crow has shot himself in the foot with this strike.
- Phil, London
Scotty - make your first port of call the Transport for London site (www.tfl.gov.uk). There are several tube lines running so don't panic, you will get from A to B, it might just take a bit longer.
- Goggs, London
Stop all the war war retoric and the moronic we will fight them on the beaches nonsense, all of us are annoyed about the strike and how long will this go on for before Boris and Crowe sit down , What happened at acas last night? why was the agreement put forward by LUL that was also signed by the RMT withdrawn at the last minute by LUL and TFL? as a member of the traveling public i would like to know, is Boris working in our interest? is tht agreement still on the table for the RMT? it seems to me reading the papers tht there is nothing between the two sides now , so WHY WHY WHY?
- Brian, Wiltshire
Congratulations and Thank You to all RMT/ Tube staff who worked so hard to keep the tubes running today. Like the average Londoner, you must be heartily sick of Bob Crow shouting strike every time there is an RMT dispute. Bob Crow has to go, he is single-handedly bringing the excellent reputation of our London tube staff into disrepute. There will always be tough negotiations to be had, but the starting point shouldn't be "We'll Strike".
- Christine, London
Free river services? News to me. I travelled on the Thames Clippers from Greenwich to Embankment this morning and it was most definitely not free.
- Patricia, London
I'd like to know why the Bakerloo line closed down at 6pm yesterday given the strike didn't start till 7pm. This left thousands of people stranded.
I hope london underground has the guts to deduct a days pay from the drivers who stopped early for their unlawful extra hours strike.
- Ian, london
A huge THANK YOU to all Tube staff who are working today to keep our city moving despite one union leader's ego. We all have a vested interest in working together to support each other so that London prospers. The public should pressure all Tube staff to go back to work as soon as possible.
- Simon, London
Help! I've got to come to London tomorow for a long standing family event. I bought my tickets early and paid for tube through to Gloucester Rd. Does my ticket allow me to travel by bus and if so what bus will take me in the direction of Old Brompton Road? I'd really appreciate any ideas from Londoners with knowledge of the system.
- Scotty, Cambridge UK
Bob Crow needs to take his entirely political agenda and stuff it where the sun don't shine. This strike is only about Crow's hard left political agenda and is a throwback to the bad old days of the 1970s.
Well done to all of the Tube Drivers who have seen through this nonsense and gone to work as usual, London thanks you.
- Matt, London, UK
Rob, London - you make my blood boil with such comments. Are you seriously suggesting that by striking, they are going to avoid redundancies? Quite the opposite mate! There is going to be so much money lost over the next 2 days because of this very selfish action, that, TfL will be forced to make redundancies. Don't you get it Rob....profits = employment and losses = redundancies.!!
- Maya, London
I agree with the many posts that suggest these strikers should be sacked and replaced by people who do want to work. £40k plus endless benefits? I'm off to apply for job on the tube.
- Maya, London
Bob Crow is a Millwall supporter, founder member of the spectacularly unsuccessful 'No to EU' party and leader of the RMT union.
Was the expression "serial loser" expressly invented for Bob and his neanderthal mates.
Why don't you all sod off to North Korea, where you will be among friends?
- Charlie Jordan, London, England
I personally would like to thank Big Bob for staging the strike. I can now go to the England match fully tanked up without having to make special plans because I am due to go on shift on the Victoria line!
- Artfuldodger128, london
Thank you to all the tube drivers who turned up to work today I appreciate your efforts. And thank you to all of the staff on hand at rail stations and bus drivers who were able to pick up the pieces today.
- Phil, London
Did the masses realise that TfL back office staff were also involved in the strike action and also walked out last night for 48 hours? This is not over pay but because of 3000 redundancies that have been announced. Incidentally they don't earn 40K either. No where near it but their jobs are under threat and so they have mobilised. I don't agree with RMT's tactics but nonetheless at least it is a union with a backbone and does more than other unions that just pay lip service to situations.
- Rob, London
A huge thank you to all the drivers who kept the Northern Line going today, it's good to see common sense prevail !
- Electra M, London
My friend works for the Underground as a station manager, and once went in during a strike. He was labelled a scab by all his colleagues. Well done to all the drives and other staff who did go to work today - I know you will probably get a lot of hassle from some of your colleagues but you did the right thing and it's appreciated!
- Mike O, London
The strike only goes to show how distant the unions have become from reality. In the middle of a recession they choose to put more pressure on the Uk economy by making it difficult for commuters to get to work. This is utterly selfish behaviour and they should thank their lucky stars that they have more job security than most. Asking for more in the current climate is just greed. The sacking of colleagues, in very small numbers,should be compared with the level of rising unemployment in some areas the private sector. Put simply, just get on with your jobs and service the public properly.
- Jon, Wimbledon, UK
The sheep that are being led by Bob Crow into yet another pointless strike (strange how the strike takes place when England are playing at home ? ), seem to forget that for strikes to generally be successful they need widespread support and backing. Forget the failed firefighters 30k strike a few years ago ? Once there working practises and benefits became public knowledge all support for them dwindled away .The same has happened to strikes that the RMT are behind, if the members feel that they have such a rough time and hate there employer so much why are they still working for them ? Nothing to do with the amount of staff benefits , high wages , low amount of working hours , long holidays etc etc etc , eh ?
- Dave B, London UK
Bravo to all TFL staff today who turned up and clocked in!
The world has moved on but these militant, left wing, trade unionist seem to be stuck in a time warp.
- Decency, London, UK
Was mayhem to get from Paddington to Picadilly..
If these guys are going on strike while recieving 40k a year does that mean we all should start going on strike to get a pay rise?ridiculous..
- Randeep, Picadilly Circus
Firstly considering the current economic climate I personally think the tube drivers should consider themselves lucky they are in employment. Secondly I think it is disgusting that the capital is held to ransom buy a bullying thug that is known as Bob Crow. He is nothing more. Why on earth should a tube driver who endangered lives (didnt he open doors on the wrong side of the tube?) be given his job back? He should be sacked for being imcompetant and thats that.
- Victoria, London, UK
I'd like to add my thanks and support to the tube drivers who went to work today.
This is going to backfire on Bob Crow and his mates, big time.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
Maybe the disgruntled football fans could pay Mr Crow a visit at Seven Sisters tube station?
- D.W., London
Maybe RMT members should pay closer attention to what happens with their union subscriptions. A few clues:
RMT income from members in 2007 £10,497,000
RMT spend on benefits to members £1,159,000 (thats £15 each!)
RMT Administration costs £10,105,000
Bob Crow Renumeration £114,252
Nice work if you can get it. Proper fat-cat gravy train.
- Joseph Yossarian, London
Well done to the tube drivers and workers who turned up today. It's nice to see that not all tube workers are in Bob Crows gang. Still, walked to work and beat 2 buses from UCH to Baker St. WOOHOO!
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
I have the utmost respect for all the tube workers who defied the union bully Bob Crow.
I am pleased another 2 day summer jolly for the tube workers as brought about bad weather. May it pour with rain.
- Mike, St Albans
Anyone else annoyed by London Midland? A half an hour journey took me over 2 hours today, due to signal problems.
Response to Steve, London: I agree,the exercise will do people good.Far too many lazy people who jump on a bus to go one stop.
- Triffidqueen, Desk in London
To the fools harrassing the bus driver last night, shame on you. And to the rest of London, don't forget to thank the staff that have gone to work to help keep us moving.
- Andy, Tooting
I'm always sympathetic to exploited workers. Which is why I have zero sympathy for the Tube drivers and their aggressive, pig-headed union. We have a serious problem looming, they are gearing up to turn the London Olympics into one vast cash machine for themselves. It will be a disaster for Britain if we don't tackle the RMT now. Even Aslef think they are a disgrace.
- Nick, London
Like many commuters, I dug out my AtoZ last night to find an alternative route to work. To my astonishment I realised that my commute this morning would be an absolute delight. I packed my rucksack, and reached for my running shoes.
At Paddington I weaved through the queues waiting for taxis and buses. Then into the tranquility of Hyde Park and along Serpentine. Through a well signposted, clean underpass with lovely artwork, to take me into Green Park. Smiles and nods to other joggers along the Mall, and into St James' Park. Just as I was starting to wonder about my route, Big Ben (that most iconic of London landmarks) rang out to guide me in. A short way along a couple of gridlocked roads to arrive at my destination.
Time? About the same as my normal tube+walk (although this excldes the obligatory shower and change).
So, in future I'll be occasionally reaching for my trainers rather than my Oyster Card.
Now...how much do folding bicycles cost?!
- Chris, Oxford
The underground workers who came in to work today should be applauded for their good sense.
The RMT demands to reinstate two workers at the threat of halting negotiations and strike action strike me as dangerously close to terrorist tactics. Ultimately disrupting the capitals everyday life until their demands are met.
It is absolutely unacceptable and I hope Boris Johnson will not give in to such bullying behavior.
- Emma, London, UK
Tube drivers are paid £40,000 for keeping awake. Hardly low wages!
- Bruce Edwards, London
Thank you to all the tube drivers who turned up to work today - we all appreciate your efforts. And thank you to all of the bus drivers who did pick up the pieces today. Thank you too to Aslef.
- Cameron, London
My wife works for the NHS and her and many people like her do a selfless job for a lot less money than the LU staff.
It's a joke that these people can hold london to ransom again and while it is a basic right to withdraw labour as a last resort I believe Bob Crow puts his own ego ahead of his members.
Shocking and utterly senseless.
- Denis O'Hara, London
Get rid of all the tube workers - there are thousands of unemployed men who would give their right arm for a fantastically well paid job. Get rid of them all and start again with workers who are glad to have a job. Bob Crowe is an aggressive power-hungry sad little man who his union should get shot of as soon as possible. I know loads of people who would apply tomorrow - call their bluff!!!!!!
- Julie, London
"every member of staff is allocated 4 weeks sick leave and if they are not sick they can take the extra 4 weeks as holiday,potentially getting 10 weeks paid holiday per year"
Absolute drivel Peter Cummins. Where the hell did you get/make up that from? In fact staff who are off sick are coerced into returning to work even though they're still unfit for duty.
"As an international city for business we are fast becoming a laughing stock, what do all the tourists think about London now,guess what they will not be coming back."
Paris and France in general make striking as part of their culture. Doesn't stop anyone visiting as tourists does it?
- Pete, London UK
Peter Cummings says that LUL Staff get 4 weeks sick pay, which if not taken can be used as 4 extra weeks holidays.
Wrong - LUL Staff are allowed up to 26 weeks on Full pay when sick and then 13 weeks on Half pay after that.
You should ask your mate to get you a job there.......
- Frank, London, UK
Thank you, to the tube drivers who turned up to work this morning. Thanks also to Boris, for putting on some extra transport.
It's reduculous that a loony minority of 2,500 can stop 3million people from travelling and their own colleagues from earning a day's wage.
Let's dig our heels in, let them strike and get rid of Crow once and for all.
- Liz, London
Let us suspend Bob Crow hopefully by the short 'n curlies!
How much is Bob Crow paid while the men are on strike?
How much is he paid per year and what were his expenses for the past 10 years?
- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK
Got my usual tube to-day a bit late. However it was packed.Talked to a tube employee who thought the strike was called off late last night. However he thought it crazy when lots of people were loosing jobs to go on strike over an arguement regarding two workers. He though the RMT could loose the support of many tube workers over it.
- Jim, London
NOTHING TO CROW ABOUT
When will Boris conclude that the DLR trial is sucessfull and that DLR tecnology is more than adiquate to run a driverless tube service.
Is the London commuter being Rooked !
- Jack, London
London Bus Drivers who work more hours but do not get paid as much are left as usual to pick the pieces. Please London show some appreciation, and I mean some appreciation to your not so greedy London bus drivers.
- Kwik, London
I would like to commend the many London Underground employees that chose to defy the ludicrous demands of Mr Blobby Crow and his band of greedy skanks, and instead chose to come to work. I'm sick to the back teeth of this man and the fact that he can hold millions of London commuters to ransom whenever the whim takes him. In any industrial dispute where the result of industrial action will affect millions of people in such a marked way - common sense and pragmatism ought to prevail!!!
- Ali Sichilongo, London
Good on you strike breakers. You are right, the RMT wrong.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
It is good to see that there wasn't the kind of chaos predicted by Bob Crow and his cronies. I echo some of the responses - it clearly appears that there are some folk (obviously mainly in ASLEF, but some in RMT) who fully understand the current economic climate and the unenviable position they are all in compared to many people in the private sector.
Bob Crow suddenly bringing in the two disciplined drivers speaks volumes - he knew he didn't have the support of his union and he we desperate to ensure that the strike went ahead. Reading between the lines, one wonders if he fears for his role as the Union leader and for the Union in general and was trying to rally support.
Well done to everyone who made the attempt to get to work today. I took the easy option and am working from home (my commute is usually 2hr 45mins when it's all smooth!).
Boris et al - you're doing a grand job against these people - keep it up!
- Jane, London
70's Man does Birdie Song at Cenotaph.
- Helen, Reading
Well done for all of the underground workers who did go to work and defied the RMT and Bob Crow!
- Jk, London
Do I sniff Boris here having a "go" at management for calling off and backing out of negotiations yesterday?
- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK
It doesn't help that the westbound side of Fleet Street is closed, that roadworks at the Aldwych seriously impede westbound traffic and that yesterday evening the whole of the Strand was closed for a crane. That's just the bit between Waterloo and the City. Maybe the mayor could exercise co-operation to assist traffic flow, rather than merely putting more wheels on the road. This evening going home will be a particularly dark nightmare.
- Emungo, London
I wonder if Dinosaur Crowe bothers to keep up to date with current affairs. If he did then he would know that there is a bit of a credit crunch going on at the moment and 'his' members can't actually afford to pander to his every whim and go on strike. Perhaps Bobby and his cronies should take a trip back to the planet they come from - and stay there. They won't be missed. Does he and the rest of the war council forfeit THEIR hefty salaries when they so blithely sanction strike action? Thought not.
- Craig, Ex-pat, Sydney, Australia (and EX-RMT member)
This latest strike is an absolute joke. I personally know someone who works for the underground who was not even balloted and he is not in the minority. In these difficult times the RMT want inflation busting pay rises for a shorter working week which is alrady 35 hours. They already get unbelievable benefits including 6 weeks holiday + (i could not believe this)every member of staff is allocated 4 weeks sick leave and if they are not sick they can take the extra 4 weeks as holiday,potentially getting 10 weeks paid holiday per year. Also the RMT bang on about health and safety when one of the guys suspended and awaiting disciplinairy action left doors open on a tube train and lied about making safty checks ????????????
Its about time either the Mayor or the Government stepped in.As an international city for business we are fast becoming a laughing stock, what do all the tourists think about London now,guess what they will not be coming back.
- Peter Cummins, London
WILL the northernline be working throughout do we think? or will they let us all get to work but not home?
- Alanj, London
Many tube services appear to be running normally. I believe Londoners should applaud those tube workers who clearly have a far better understanding of what is going on in the real world than their union leaders and recognise that strikes are not the answer. I for one will be making my appreciation clear to those tube workers I come across on my journey home.
Hopefully those same workers will recognise that Bob Crowe is past his sell by date and kick him out of office. The phrase Lions lead by Donkeys comes to mind.
- Ian, London
According to mysalary.co.uk, the average tube driver's salary is £40k. That's more than twice what new recruits to the army earn, risking their lives for their country. And in an economic downturn when many people are losing their jobs and many more are having to take paycuts, the RMT are bringing London to a standstill, ruining everyone's commute, in order to hold out for 5%? I think it's time to sack all the strikers and impose a no-union deal on public transport.
- Tom, London
Oh come on, of course the strike causes disruption - it would serve little purpose otherwise.
- David Chown, bath
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.
- Bob, Cheam
When I got to Leytonstone station at 6.30am this morning to catch the first of 3 buses to work, a group of RMT union officials were sitting in fold up chairs drinking tea and laughing. How much longer do the hardworking commuters of London have to put up with being treated with such utter & total contempt by these people? I work for a small company which is struggling to stay afloat. We are all freelance, have no pensions, no job security whatsoever and work very long hours in order for the company to stay competitive. And we are expected to put up with strike action by a union who already enjoy working conditions most of us can only dream about. I have nothing but contempt for Bob Crowe.
- Jane Bartram, Leytonstone
Don't give in to those thugs who think they can hold the city to ransom.
Reinstate sacked drivers, payincreases, what world do these guys live in?!?!?
- Mario Kempe, london
John Cridland, deputy director general
said that a small minority of people are prepared to inflict this kind of disruption on others. Well why didn't the management concede the deal that was agreed during the negotiations? Was a mystery third party involved as Bob Crowe suggested. The underground workers are making a stand against low wages and job losses. I wonder how much Mr. Crilland is being paid weekly?
- Leslie May, Gateshead Tyne and Wear
Another example of all that is wrong with the Left.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Not such a bad thing,it will give plenty of opportunity for many overweight Londoners to get some exercise.I saw a few horrors this morning I can tell you.Far too many pies consumed in the capital methinks!
- Steve, London
SURELY THEIR WILL BE AN EMERGENCY ACT PUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT TO BAN PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKES IN EMERGENCY SERVICES.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
It's about time someone done something about the underground workers, 3 million unemployed and millions worried about there jobs and they go on strike, I can understand if they were poorly paid but they are not, have a look in your local paper and be glade you still got a job because in my local paper there are about a dozen real jobs for a paper that cover the whole of South East London.
- David, Abbey Wood SE2
I cannot wait for the Olympics when the IOC will see at first hand what a 2nd world capital London has become. Then Bob can organise a three week strike. That is of course if the IOC have not moved the games to a well run civilised country. Iran anyone !!
- Nick Holland, glasgow
STRANGE WE GET A COMMENT FROM BROWN OVER A CONTESTANT IN A TELEVISION CONTEST BUT UNTOLD MISERY IS INFLICTED ON LONDONERS STRUGGLING TO EARN A LIVING AND THERE IS SILENCE FROM DOWNING STRET.
PERHAPS HE DOESNT REALIZE LONDON IS THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD OR PERHAPS THE ENTIRE CABINET THINKS IT OK FOR A PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE TO BE CALLED WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS DID NOT VOTE.
COME TO THAT DOES ANYONE OTHER THAN BORIS HAVE AN OPINION
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
5% and a job for life? Which planet are these people on?
Out in the real economy we have zero job security, reductions in shifts, reductions of benefits and so on.
And yet the greedy fat-cat Bob Crowe thinks the staff of the tube are somehow better.
- Joseph Yossarian, London
Up yours, Bob Crow! So I had to get up at silly o'clock and get a train at 5.20 rather than 6.00, then get a bus from Liverpool Street (generally quite civilised getting the No.11, despite a lack of bus company staff). Tonight I'll probably get a boat from Westminster to Tower Hill, maybe even have a beer if the sun's out, and I'll do the same tomorrow and as long as it's necessary. Much rather that than be held to ransom by Crow and his ilk.
- Paul, London
Thanks RMT, had a nice bus trip/walk to work this morning. Looking forward to doing it all again tonight/tomorrow.
When will you learn that you will never get public support for your actions.
PS Where were all the picket lines, I did not see anyone outside the various tube stations on my route.
- Lyn, London
Fire them all and bring in some cheap Polish and Indian labourers who will do the job twice as well for half the money. Come on Boris, it's time to rip the band aid off.
- St, London
In a recent interview, Boris Johnson alluded to legislative intervention to force compulsory and binding arbitration in cases such as the tube strike debacle.
After the end of Apartheid in 1994 and despite a political scenario where the trade union movement was very powerful, South Africa’s Labour Relations Act emerged, giving workers the right to strike, but only with regard to increasing their bargaining position on disputes of interests, such as wages. Disputes of rights, such as the right not to be unfairly dismissed due to alleged misconduct or redundancy, have to be decided through binding arbitration and strikes on these issues are illegal. This makes sense. How can a strike decide whether someone should be dismissed or whether an employer has to restructure to remain economically viable? Such an approach would avoid London being held to ransom by tube workers, at least on dismissal and redundancy issues.
- Garth Snyman, Woodford Green UK
