• Tube drivers defy the strike
• Has the mighty RMT gone too far?
• In pictures: Tube strike hits London commuters
• Cyclists unite to form 'bike Tubes' at five stations
• This strike could be a godsend for commuters

Reader views (111)

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Since when did the average Londoner become the enemy? Why is it that we are all being used as blackmail when all anyone is trying to do at the moment, is get on with a pretty miserable situation. What is it that you people think you are doing that is so special? I'm pretty sure if you step aside, the thousands of London's unemployed will happily agree to take over your seriously cushy situation. Stop punishing people with real jobs to do and lives to live. You selfish prats.

- Ella, West London

At at time when everyone is suffering and trying to stay afloat and those people still with jobs need to be there more than ever, i cannot believe what a selfish act this is. Shameful.

- Bella, London

Londoners lend me your ears! There is a promised land where tubes, terrorism, filthy streets, mugging chavvs and nasty people can't get you. It's anywhere outside the m25. Upsticks and enjoy a real life!

- Terry Devlin, Brighton

Bob Crowe is getting his own back because of Boris's election as Mayor.Probably all planned with Labour or his mate Ken..Loads of money Champagne Socialist Crowe should be sacked.

- Jerry Skinner, Brighton

I listened to Radio 4's John Humphry's interview with Bob Corw and Boris Johnson. Against my expectation, Crow was specific, measured and impersonal. Johson was blustering and imprecise. On the basis of that reporting the mayour came off very badly.

- John Samuel, United Kingdom

Maya, London states I work in management, have 2 degrees, trained for 12 years in total, work in excess of a 60 hour week, no overtime, 20 days holiday, 3 days paid sick, no pension

Maya, this why you need a strong Union to get a decent pay & benefits package sorted out for yourself and stop whinging so much, maybe you should work as an Estate Agent or an MP.....

- Frank, London, UK

Can RMT be sued?
Loads of us have incurred extra cost and stress the last couple of days getting to and from work, and TFL and other businesses will have lost revenue.

If the RMT were made accountable they might go bankrupt! or at least think twice before holding millions of commuters hostage. If someone wants to start a class action, count me in!

But a big thankyou to all the tube workers who did turn up. It could have been a lot worse.

- Mama, London

commuting is over,get over it.

- Jimfred, London UK

I don't think anyone is saying that tube drivers are useless or unskilled, but I think that asking for a 5% payrise during a recession or asking for staff to be reinstated when they have obviously been guilty of misconduct in the workplace is ridiculous. I arrived at work at 11am today, and have to make up my hours if I don't get to work on time. I would however, like to thank the tube drivers who had the decency to go to work this morning - you made my day.

- Lisa Burns, London

Intensive training? 6 months? Try the 7 years at university it takes to get a PhD.

35 hours per week? laughable!

- Morgan, London

Dear, dear, when have tube strikes EVER been about SAFETY !!!

- Marianne, SW France/London

Sadly, it's not just the RMT bringing commuters today. Contrary to the advice above, in most media and on the TFL website, South Eastern Trains will not accept Pay As You Go Oyster on the majority of routes in Greater London. I found out when I was stopped by a group of ticket Inspectors when alighting a train, interrogated rudely, told they "didn't care" what TFL said and it didn't apply to them - and given a £20 fine. Oh, and they claimed the Zone 3 station wasn't in Greater London.

On a day when those commuters who struggle to work face so much disruption, you'd have thought a train co might try to make passengers lives easier - not profiteer from the disruption and lack of clear information.If you're travelling with them, watch out.

- David, London, UK

Tube drivers low skilled? 6 months intensive training, numerous exams and then you get your licence that is valid for 12 months. At that point a re-test is required. Think TfL would dispute the claim that it is a low skilled job. If it were anyone could do it and I've seen so many people fail. Oh...by the way I implement the training so I should know!

- Rob, London

To get city and gilds you do need 2 years, and after that you get no more then 17k. so you are a tube staff all a rocket scientist, a`nt you?

- Alexsandr, london

RMT is another pathetic Union wallowing in faded glory and out of touch with its members and the public. Bob like Gordon should go.

- Nalcolm Bayes, france

40k - 35 holiday days - plus the odd strike
Where do I sign up?
- Andy,

So come Andy, let's see you do it then. TV news could follow you and we could all see how far you get. Seeing as you are confusing the RMT members (on strike and certainly not paid £40k) with ASLEF members (drivers who are not on strike) I doubt you'd get past the front door.

The ignorance displayed in most of the comments here is astounding.

- Ian Bartlett, Chesham, UK

In an interview with Bob Crow on the television today, he explained that the 5% increase people are talking about was when the rate of inflation last year before this recession took hold. The RMT Union was asking for an increase of 'no less than the rate of inflation'. Their pay claim was submitted for consideration in the latter half of last year, but was not discussed until recently when the threat of industrial action loomed.

The agreement was reached on pay this week (after the strike was announced last week) and the outstanding issues were to be resolved were 'management bullying' and threatened compulsory redundancies which breached an agreement reached in 2001 when the engineering side of the organisation transferred from LU to Metronet. RMT were prepared to suspend the planned strike so these issues could be negototiated by the trade unions and London Underground/TfL.

Whatever you think of Mr Crow, he seemed quite sincere about these matters when talking on the news this morning.

- Michael, Reading

Bob Crow is not representing the interests of the RMT members , he is having his annual strike.

Forgive me, but is'nt this what Wapping was all about?
His actions based on the "Boys Own Book of Strikes" are pathetic as well ,trying to get the Mayor involved etc.oh per-lease.
This is the time to get tough. Start advertising for trainee train drivers now.Assemble a workforce and close him down.
If the Americans can do it with air traffic controllers surely we can do it with train drivers.
Now thats where the Mayor should step in. Take him on Boris !

- Bryan Odell, Knokke , Belgium

come to the westcountry Bob it takes 3 years on average to get what your drivers get per annum-from your photo you could do a lot worse than jog down here.

- Martin, N DEVON

it is very enoying that innocent people has to pay the price... they strike to reinstate two people who brake the law! one was stealing! another one brake the safety law! how can such people could be trustwothy???? And ohnestly speaking, the sallaries people get in underground....milions would dream to get atleast half of it... so i would support the grouop of people who yhinks that strikers should be sacked themselrfs!

- Sigita, London, UK

Yet again-the commuter suffers. The picture at the top of this article about Bob Crow is laughable-Safety before Profit-when one of the dismissed workers had flouted safety rules. No person I've spoken to has any sympathy with the RMT workers-whose unreasonable demands-particularly in the current climate-are disgraceful.

- Celine, London, UK

About time the commuters went on strike!!

- Mac, London

I am in the RMT Union and whilst I didn't vote for strike action (but for action short of a strike instead) I have to say this apears to be a complete distortion of the truth.

Bob Crow in a letter to members:
"...At 6 o’clock, and hour before the strike was to begin, agreement was reached with the Acting Managing Director, Richard Parry. In fact I signed a document to this effect and this was to go back in front of your General Grades Committee immediately so that we could suspend the strike. At 6.35 p.m. whilst awaiting the final typed agreement we were told by management that they had made a phone call and that they could no longer abide by the agreement – they reneged before the ink was even dry. We were stunned that management could be so dishonest.

I have no doubt that the phone call made was to the Transport Commission or City Hall and they instructed the negotiators to pull the agreed deal. It became quite clear that the Transport Commission or City Hall were using stalling tactics to try and extend the talks to 7 p.m. in the hope that staff would believe agreement had been reached and turn up for work and members were also getting anonymous texts telling them the action was being called off.

It is an absolute disgrace that these bodies should interfere in the negotiations taking place between your Union and the LUL management. We negotiate in good faith and expect the same from the other side..."

- Christian, Middx

Bob Crow is paid £115,000 per year! What a disgrace for a loony left-wing fanatic who prances around like some communist party dictator to be paid so much!

How much does he claim in expenses?

It is about time the RMT Union members demanded refunds from their contributions and insisted their Union Leaders were paid at sensible rates and also received no pay when the members were on strike! Or is it one rule for the rich communist leaders and another rule for the workers?

- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK

I walked to rtoday- 11 kilometers- and thoroughly enjoyed it, arrived at the office refreshed and alert instead of tired and fed up. Going to do so regularly from now on, it's good exercise too! I wonder how many people here could do the same maybe they should rest their mouth muscles from all that moaning and used the muscles in their legs instead!

- Nj, London

Why is Bob Crowe still 'running' the rmt? All he seems to do is cause chaos over many years of running a union. why should someone like him be allowed to do this to London?

- Mrs Geraldine Harrison, Peterborugh, Cambs. U.K.

Of the 10,000 RMT members on the underground less than 1500 are drivers.There is no doubt that either Boris,Peter Hendy or both pulled the plug on an agreement.Will anyone in the media ask Boris thr direct question?.Once he starts waffling instead of answering then everyone will know the truth.

- Colin, barking essex

I want to applaud Jay's comment 'Down with Bob Crow'. He comes across as an arrogant power-hungry throwback from the 1970s. A very low number of staff were in favour of this strike and a friend who is a driver, said intimidation is used to influence votes and staff are too frightened to vote against the unions.

It must be horrible working underground and dealing with the public but ultimately if they don't want the job there are many, many people who would love a very secure, guaranteed-pension, short working week £40K a year.

- C Shell, London

At a time like this with the country on its knees strikes should be band and Crow put up in his nest

- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex

No offence but in this recession, most of our pay is either sticking or cut. The staff that support this strike should even be lucky to have a job right now, syop being greedy its just driving a train.

We the public commuters are the ones who have to suffer with the ridiculous expenses to travel on the majority of time packed out underground trains, so what is there for you staff to complain about? More money? What?

Can I just say well done to the underground trains that decided to still run.. i.e Northern line which was the only to still run somewhat effectively.

- Chole, London

Bob Crow only serves his own inflated ego and arrogance. Socialists only serve to divide and destroy. Socialist principles are honourable and just, but no honourable men or women practice them, hence socialism, as practised the World over, fails miserably. Liberty and freedom from bullies like Crow and Brown are the only answer. Get out there and take back your rights and show Bob what a complete tool he is. Londoners are strong willed and capable of anything if they put their minds to it. Don't blame the tube drivers, they're just sheep like the rest of us, following orders and doing what they're told is best for us.

- Simon, Chatham

Sack them all and start again with non-unionised staff. A critical peice of infrastructure cannot be left in the hands of some 70's millitant lefties. What will happen when London hosts the 2012 Olympics! Take action now or live to regret it in 2012.

- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark

This has nothing to do with Pay or redundancies. This is a class war and a war of personalities between Boris and Bob played out to all of our misery's. Boris was right to try with his no strike policy and Bob is just flexing his muscle despite the fact that is evident most Tube workers dont want a day without pay. Then again with the amount they are paid they can afford it! If it is true that they have demanded a 5% pay increase it is a disgrace. And a few less workers reading out the boards and telling you to mind the doors isn't such a bad thing. Why do we have to get ripped off on our travel becuase Bob wants more people in work doing menial jobs for too much pay.

- Andrew, london

WHY DO LONDONERS JUST TAKE IT ON THE CHIN WITH PEOPLE LIKE BOB CROW. IS HE THE PRIME MINISTER? WHY HAS HE GOT THE POWER TO CRIPPLE THE CITY AND CAUSE £100M LOSS WITH HIS MINIONS? IF MARGARET THATCHER COULD BE TOPPLED AND DEPOSED, WHY CAN'T THE PUBLIC DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE SEVEN SISTERS STATION WHERE BOB IS CROWING AND GO PELT HIM WITH ROTTEN EGGS AND SHOW THEIR ANGER? WE HAD ALL KINDS OF DEMOS TO SHOW OUR DISPLEASURE, THIS ONE WARRANTS TOP PRIORITY. THE CHEEK OF HIM TO USE THE SOON TO BE REDUNDANT C&G STAFF AS AN EXCUSE FOR HIS ACTION. WE SHOULD ALL SEND OUR BILL FOR LOSS OF INCOME AND STRESS CAUSED TO BOB FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

- Sarah, Northwood

What is saddening is that the workers of this country have been made to pay the price, in terms of job losses and pay freezes/cuts, for the mistakes of a few bankers and politicians. The people of this country should be in uproar about this: Instead just one union is protesting. It's about time more people woke up and took a stand against the incompetence of the bankers and government, and realised that we-the ordinary people of this country-should not be made to suffer because of their mistakes.

- Oliver, London

"RIVER: 8,000 shuttle boats running per hour with extra free service between London Bridge and Tower Bridge."

Where did they get all these boats from?

- Tom, Watford (UK)

Maybe if every member of Bob Crows union voted, there would be no strike.

- Shallotman, Basildon

Gazza re your point "Breaches of Agreements.It is an out and out lie that the union were only interested in the two sacked drivers. There were another five specific cases where management had abused the disciplinary procedures. It was agreed that ACAS would look at all seven cases and the union said that it would be able to suspend the action to allow this to go ahead."

Fair enough that the cases should be looked at if it is unfair dismissal but as far as I can see the 2 cases that were in the news yesterday were a major breach of thier contract of empolyment, one on health and safety of the tube travellers by opening doors on the wrong side of the train and the other because he is has been accused of being a thief. If these 2 cases are true then the 2 people involved should never be reinstated and nobody should be striking on their behalf. Its time to get real, people have to work hard to keep their jobs, in this day and age jobs are not a given. Dont be lazy and dont expect to have a pay rise and a job for life despite breaking basic rules. What you shoudl remember is that Mr Crow will shaft you like he has the rest of London, dont be fooled.

- Amanda, London

Are these LU and RMT leaders and their cronies belongs to BNP.
Or they are from the different planets.
One rotten apples rotts the other good apples in the bag.
This has gone to far.

- Yam Gurung, watford

The scale of misery unleashing to the tube commuters is immeasurable. The mayor should have the resolve to bring trained drivers from India, where the average monthly salary is not greater than GBP500.00. Commuters and tourists are talking about the hyper inflated cost of GBP4.00 for travelling from one station to the nearby next in the London tube system, which is not prevalent in any where in other cities of the world. By cutting the tube drivers wages, you can cut the overhead expenses drastically.

If you have the nerve to terminate the contract of tube drivers and employ train drivers from abroad, then you put a stop to ever threatening tube strike, and save money. Explore the possibility of assigning Indian and Chinese train drivers, at single person accommodation, and twelve monthly contract.

It is time that the Mayors office took task on RMT union

- John George, woolwich

Ban the RMT Union

- Vip, London

Gazza - I don't believe you. This has been happening for many years so this isn't a coincidence at all.

The RMT have shown us that they cannot be trusted to represent the underground. We must smash them before we get completely hijacked at the Olympics. This is urgent.

- Clint, London

I am Tube train Driver and have no intention of striking or taking any other industrial action.
We appreciate times are difficult and that we are in a very secure well paid job.I think it needs pointing out that the vast majority of Drivers do not agree with the strike. Almost all the drivers at my depot turned up for work.We belong to the train drivers union ASLEF which is not striking...

- Lee, london

Crow is terrorising London with his tactics. He has held London at ransom over the dismissal of two staff members who have been found guilty of misconduct. This is no different to terrorists holding hostages in return of release of prisoners. Government and Mayor please be warned this is a practice run for Crow. The real damage will be inflicted upon us by him during the Olympics. I don't think we are as much under threat from the Al Qaida as we are from Crow. Change the laws and get this animal out (literally).

- Char Vis, London

Bob Crow - you dont know your born. I wish you lived in the real world, where we dont strike to inconvenience others every 5 mins. Im all for unions and fairness but striking because you havent got a salary increase during these bad economic times and to reinstate losers who have been sacked, sucks! Because of you, the retail industry in London will suffer greatly and wont improve our economic situation.

- Natty, London

Bob Crow should be locked up in Guantánamo Bay for holding tube passengers, who pay already so much for their salaries, as hostages for the selfishness of greedy tube drivers on strike today. Cheers for those who have come to work and restpect their own work.

- Cheung, London

"Safety before Profit"????

This is a guy who wants one of his members to be reinstated after being sacked for one, of many things, opening the doors on the wrong side of the train!

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

why oh why dont these staff let all customers go on for FREE for two days rather than striking. Its just so 1970s...... That way no agro for customers who are the ones pay the wages !!!If there was a viable alternative nobody would use the tube.

- Andy Mair, chelmsford, essex

I need a job, sack those iiots and pay me half of that.
I have a BSc in Computer Science and would be more than happy to work for 20k/year.

- Paul, London UK

"8,000 shuttle boats running per hour..."?

That's more than 2 per SECOND. D-Day, the Berlin Airlift, Cowes Regatta, eat your heart out!

- Jonathan, Hertford, UK

How can Crow stand beside a placard saying Safety before Profit? One of his own drivers opened the doors on the wrong side, and Crow wants him reinstated! Duh.

- Crystalclear, London

A quote from manboobs Crow on the RMT site:
"RMT has exposed the hypocrisy of senior tube managers on pay when 123 of the top TFL bosses are paid over £100,000 plus bonuses. It is those same managers who are attacking, bullying and victimising RMT members over our campaign for job security and a living wage."

Ahem, but please remind us Mr Manboobs, what exactly is your 6 figure salary amount?

Hypocrisy? You said it Crow LOL!

- Blot, Woodford Green

Rob London:- "Tube drivers low skilled? 6 months intensive training, numerous exams and then you get your licence that is valid for 12 months."
I am sure that Nurses who train for 3+ years and can work more unsocial hours would be happy with 40k.

- Tony, Outside London

I am no apologist for the RMT, and find the strike offensive, but I can't help feeling that the whole thing has a whiff of spin to it. I would think it is more desirable to for teh oofice of the mayor to allow a strike and discredit the Tube staff than to solve the immediate issue. Although the Tube will never be mothballed/shut down, like the mines in the 80's, I would think Boris would be lookin got emasculate a powerful union, at least. Many may say that would not be a bad thing, but given the level of subsidy public transport receives in the Capital, I can't see how a commercially dominated system would ever benefit the passengers, I mean 'customers'.

- Bigolly, London, UK

In the words of the great Mark E. Smith, "communists are just part-time workers".

- Annie, London

Find it amazing that Bob is stood in front of a banner saying safety before profit. Yet he wanted to re-instate a tube driver who opened the passenger doors on the worng side of a stop allowing them to walk onto live line. Safety before profit (unless you are an RMT Memeber!)

- Karl Wilson, Leeds England

I commuted in from Reading to Denmark Hill via the Bakerloo AND Victoria line; two of the lines your responsible for Mr Crow??? If there wasn't publicity around I wouldn't have noticed there was a strike. If anything, there were actually seats today and I had a much better journey than usual!! Seems you're losing your grip, go on Boris - take out these idiots now. We want someone who knows what they're doing and has the unity of their OWN members.

- M Sid, Reading, UK

A lot people have said sack all the underground staff, and then employ new people who would be grateful for a job. It would takes months for the tube to run again and who would train the staff if everyone has been dismissed.And could yoube sure that in another couple years, the new staff might become militant and call for strikes.
Also Boris said in his manifesto that he would have no strike deal,he has been Mayor for 13 months what has happenend to that promise? Has not keep word then.
He has not even met any Union Reps in an official capacity.

- Barry, Chelmsford

Sorry Rob, with Paul on this one!
Driving a train is NOT hard.
It is a job, it may become boring, and dealing with the general public day in day out is a trying experience.

But many do it, and for much much less than 40k. Not to mention the holiday entitlement, the 35hr working week... no sympathy from me!

But we must also remember that it is not the staff that have done this! Was the vote less than 30% for a strike?
Keep the workers, dismantle the RMT! It is a disgrace.

- Al, London

We must declare the tube as essential services and make it unlawful to strike. The amount of congestion and extra smoke caused by the traffic jams etc mut be paid for by the RMT and if they dont put them in Jail. They deserve no mercy for holding londoners to ransom. Down Down Bob Crow.

- Jay Ramakrishnan, London, UK

One might have more sympathy with the RMT's extortionate demands if they didn't strike more frequently than almost any other union in the country. We have an RMT strike on London Underground pretty much annually. Most commuters don't have the pay & conditions of the RMT members and it is they who have to pay for it through the huge ticket prices of London Underground.

- Mark Lindsay, Edgware, England

On the one hand, I admire the Tube workers for sticking together and standing up to Big Government and Big Business.

On the other hand, I am mighty glad I'm not a sheep....er, a Londonder.....and that I do not have to commute in London every day!

- Omabu, Leicester, UK

The world is in recession yet Bob Crow seems to think that London Underground should be immune from pay freezes and redundancies.
Sack them all!
There are 2 million unemployed in this country and I am sure most of them would be glad to go to work for £36k pa.

- Sue, Lodnon, England

Making safety before profit the slogan and at the same time pressuring to have someone in serious breach of safety reinstated does not strike me as very consistent. Maybe it's time Londoners boycott the underground unless Bob Crow steps down.

- Stefan, London

I see Crowe is stood in front of a banner saying "safety before profit" - what about his drivers that opened the doors on the wrong side and now he wants everyone to strike to get them reinstated? How does he square that circle? The guy is a hypocrite only interested in himself. Eventually he will be replaced so that we can all move on from the 1980's.

- Andrew, St. John's Wood, London

Nothing wrong with being a tough negotiator but I doubt Bob Crowe is a Kenny Rogers fan.

- Ian, London

To be honest, make sure they don't get paid for the days they strike and put in a escalting scale, so the more days they strike their pay exponentially deceases on an average of their salary over the year. Less they forget un employment is high, recession is biting and mortgages don't pay for themselves like in the good old days of dole. You loose you job you loose your income, job seekers isn't going to cover your mortgage on that house which you over paid because you think that a union is un breakable. Last time I check its a minor inconvenience for the city this made up 100m figure well is made up.

- Martin, London

Londoners unite; ban Bob Crow from all pubs, shops, restaurants, taxi's etc, from where ever he expects us to serve him.

- Sara, London, UK

I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF TUBE WORKERS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO STRIKE, AND I HOPE THAT MORE WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. MR CROW, LONDONERS, INCLUDING MANY OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP EXERCISED THEIR RIGHT TO DITCH KEN LIVINGSTONE AND TO ELECT A FAR BETTER MAN FOR THE JOB, ONE WHO LACKS THE SELF INTEREST AND ENVY POLITICS OF YOU AND THE PREVIOUS MAYOR. HOPEFULLY MORE TUBE WORKERS WILL RECOGNISE THIS FACT, AND WHAT YOU ARE CLEARLY ATTEMPTING TO DO, POSSIBLY SUPPORTED BY KEN LIVINSTONE, AND DUMP YOU FROM YOUR (OVERPAID) JOB AND EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE, AT THE VERY EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

- Trevor Edwards, London England

It would appear the bus companies are out to make a quick buck here too. 3 buses I was on this morniong were temintaed before their ultimate destination, with no transfer tickets being offered to paying passengers. Shame on you ARRIVA buses. after refusing to get off the bus until I had a transfr ticket, I was threatened with violence by one driver and told "it aint our f-ing problem. where is the unified sdtand that was supposed to be being offered to accomodate passengers that the Mayor's office was quoting. It didnt eventuate for those coming in from East London

- Jamie, London

How can anyone be guaranteed a job at this time. Is Bob Crow so far from reality that he is unaware that there are hundreds of people loosing their jobs every day.

- Lesley, Worthing, UK

Those members of RMT that do not like Crow should go to all Union meetings and demand his resignation. He is just a loud mouthed commie.
37 years ago I tore my Union ticket up threw it in the face of the Commie official and told him where to stick it. Not a peep, from the reds, they are all mouth and trousers.

- Richard P, Eaton Bishop UK

For all you lot, verbally bashing tube workers without any understanding of the situation - ashamably just jumping on the band wagon.
The Facts
Pay. Management made a revised offer on a two year deal or four year deal. The union said it would go away, speak to their members and representatives and come back to them. Union said this did not have to be resolved immediately and hence we could suspend the action.
Breaches of Agreements.It is an out and out lie that the union were only interested in the two sacked drivers. There were another five specific cases where management had abused the disciplinary procedures. It was agreed that ACAS would look at all seven cases and the union said that it would be able to suspend the action to allow this to go ahead.
At 6 o’clock, and hour before the strike was to begin, agreement was reached with the Acting Managing Director, Richard Parry. In fact a document to this effect was signed by management & union so that it could suspend the strike. At 6.35 p.m. whilst awaiting the final typed agreement the union were told by management that they had made a phone call and that they could no longer abide by the agreement – they reneged before the ink was even dry. how could management be so dishonest.
There is no doubt that the phone call made was to the Transport Commission or City Hall.

- Gazza, NW London

Are they sure about 8,000 shuttle boats per hour on the river--don't think even the Dunkirk evacuation managed that

- Phil, London

Enjoy your power while you have got it Bob because times have changed. Your union members are well paid and get good holiday entitlements, etc. You also run something of a closed-shop as recruitment for Tube drivers apparently is through internal recruitment from other members of TfL staff. Yes they may work unsocial hours but so do a lot of Londoners and for considerable less money and I would guarantee if Tube driver jobs would be available on the open market they would be snapped up in no time. It is clear from the lack of support you have from some of your members who have came into work today that some of them can seeing the writing on the wall which you seen completely blind to.

- John David, London

I think it completely revolting that the strike has gone ahead all because of TWO drivers who were fired....if you are fired, you are fired...especially for safety checks and theft!!

In todays recession, we as the tax payer has to fork for a strike - something I know that I was asked if I wanted to contribute towards.I reckon Bob Crow needs to reduce his salary and pay for this strike out of his pocket thank you.

- Pauline, SW LONDON

The photo of Mr Crow with his hands in his pockets says it all. I'm a 150 miles from London but pity those that are just trying to get to and from work.

How can anyone take this man seriously?

- P Brown, Roos on Wye, Herefordshire

Mr Mayor, be bold and sack the lot! Chaneg the rules so that they can't hold us to ransom. Do it NOW.

- Themis, London

No Doubt Mr Crowe is being financially rewarded today as part of his very large salary.
I am self employed and myself and 5No staff will lose out today and tomorrow now thanks to the strike.
Can I make a claim against Mr Crowe personally along with all others that will be lose out?

- K Roberts, Outside London

Bob Crow is an unreformed old 70's style Communist who, despite living in a big expensive house the poshest part of Woodford Green still fails to understand that Britain has moved on from his class war view of the world. This strike is just the latest in his outdated and wholly politically motivated campaign against the people of London and in particular their democratically elected mayor.

Crow is just trying to settle scores for his old mate ex mayor Livingston, the man who completely undeservedly gave Crow's members the highest wages in the rail industry.

- Matt, London, UK

I noticed one of the riverboat firms was charging £5, while others are runnig a free service.
Someones trying to make a fast buck, wonder if Bob Crow's got shares in them?

- Malc, London,England

What tube strike? It’s business as usual for those using video…..

Simon Egan, Vice President, Western Europe & Sub-Saharan Africa, TANDBERG

I’m always amazed at how frequently UK businesses come to a standstill as a result of transport strikes and how this has a negative impact on their profitability.

Today’s tube strike in London has forced 3 million commuters to find alternative ways of reaching work. Undoubtedly, this has led to endless working hours being wasted by employees forced to make other travel arrangements, not to mention the estimated £100m losses incurred by the London economy.

If London businesses had video technology in place, the £100m loss incurred could have been dramatically reduced. Commuters could have used their working hours more productively by working from home. Scheduled domestic or international meetings could easily have been conducted over video, with participants remaining oblivious to the chaotic scene in London. By avoiding unnecessary costs related to the strike, the return on investment is instant and priceless in these situations.

If this scenario doesn’t cry out to organisations that they need to widely adopt flexible and remote working policies, what else needs to happen for this to be taken seriously?

Video technology has enabled an entirely new way of working. Much of today’s loss in productivity could have been easily avoided with simple video conferencing or telepresence.

Flexible working is not, and should

- Simon Egan, Staines, UK

Start.
Stop.
Open the doors.
Close the doors.
Repeat.

Must be really intensive training, that.

- Manboobs Crow, Harrow

Sorry, Rob, but I can't see how it's that hard! It's not like you have to steer it like you do a bus. I guess you just get crap candidates.

Anyway, given that it appears to be acceptable to throw eggs at the BNP without any comeback, is it OK if we lob a few past their sell-by date examples at the equally disliked Crow and his mob?

- Paul, London

Bob Crow is a delusional caricature of a bygone age. Could one man in any other major city do what he’s doing?

Make these strikes illegal and sack this fool…

- Mark, St Albans

Terry Chambers, London - Sorry, Bob crow is just another left wing bully. Even if he could read, he would ignore it, just like his party - Labour.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke

The irony is that 2 days of strike will cost both industry and the london for transport millions of pounds. this will result in more cash flow problems, and the ulimate need to make redundancies. Not to mention that we the poor public will be hit with a fare increase to cover these losses in time. Why do these people not see this? I would like the deal they have today thanks never mind negotiate a better position. I work in management, have 2 degrees, trainined for 12 years in total, work in excess of a 60 hour week, no overtime, 20 days holiday, 3 days paid sick, no pension
and a salary which is lower than the drivers. Remind me, why are they striking? Jobsworths, I have no respect for any of them. They are a complete joke, and we the public should not been seen in any way to be accommodating this strike action. The French would not take this lying down. We, the lovely Brits will do no more than write a few letters of complaint and that is why we get treated so shoddily.

- Maya, London

In the short term it maybe painful but we need to ensure one of the worlds greatest cities is not held to ransom by a very militant union. Do what Reagan did to the air traffic controllers - sack the lot, suffer the pain but ultimately make things run better.
Lance the boil before the Olympics.

- T E, London

I think other workers are jealous of the bargaining power of tube drivers. They are a lesson to us all. By sticking together they have achieved better pay, conditions and job security.
I use the tube daily as well. We are a bunch of muppets, tube staff are better organised than the average worker.
Boris Johnson is a snob, who is put out because he has to deal with an "oik" as well.

- Darren, london

This is a throwback to the 70's with unions holding Govt to ransom. Why are they still in a position to do this? most tube drivers don't agree with him, my wife catching the Victoria Line this morning is a good example. I suggest sacking any strikers and giving these 'cushy' jobs to some unemployed people who do want to work. Gordon, if you are reading this you could sort this out and win lots of desperately needed Labour votes.

- Matthew, Ware, Herts

When will we stop this bully from holding London to ransom. Tube workers already benefit from a salary almost twice the avergae in uk and they get loads of holidays. How about prioritising nurses!!! plain greedy!

- Mike, London

£40k for an unskilled job (before their RPI payrise for this year), 43 days annual holiday, 100% final salary pension on retirement, max working hrs 8.5hrs per day and 35hr week. Remind me what are they striking about??!!

http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/102222/102225/103142/london_underground/

- Anon, London, UK

Can all the comments sent be printed and sent to Bob Crow so he can see for him self the hate he is stiring up in london
that is if he able to read

- Terry Chambers, London

I'm pleased some of the lines are working, as the one I use everyday is. But the RMT should find other ways of striking, instead of using halting the tube service were the only people hurt by this absurd type of action are the London public and work force who deserve a lot more respect from the RMT.

- Ben S, London

Lock both sides in a room till this rubbish is sorted.

- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK

Tube drivers low skilled? 6 months intensive training, numerous exams and then you get your licence that is valid for 12 months. At that point a re-test is required. Think TfL would dispute the claim that it is a low skilled job. If it were anyone could do it and I've seen so many people fail. Oh...by the way I implement the training so I should know!

- Rob, London

This is an abuse of the power Bob Crow's union has over London. I'd like to get paid more like most people but if I were to strike from work I'd be out on my ear, just like these people should. Abusing union's powers like this at such a delicate time for the country will win them no friends and if this continues I hope they get banned from blackmailing us like this.

- James, London, Maida Vale

Run is right Crowe. Time you ran away to anywhere. You are an out of date cloth cap '70's trade unionist who has not taken notice of what has happened to your like and the world we all live in now. You have been passed by. Time to pack your bags and emigrate to North Korea? Burma? perhaps where you might fit in.

- Albert Hall, hove england

I don't see how anyone can have any sympathy for this union at all. The drivers are earning £40,000 a year - that's nearly twice the average salary - and they want a 5% payrise during a recession or they bring the city to a standstill, costing the economy millions? Public transport workers in London should be banned from union membership.

- Heidi, London

Can we not send this relic back to the 70s? Bob Crow has a chip on his shoulder and it putting his own personal feelings and gain ahead of his union and the people of london.

- Louisa, london

Its the Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine!

- D.W., London

Why do tube drivers (low-skilled job) feel that they "deserve" a RPI-adjusted raise each and every year simply because they operate in a monopoly environment where they can hold their customers ransom? Automate the tube like the DLR and solve this problem once and for all.

- Ryan, London

When will the government make strikes illegal on the underground?

- Richard, Enfield, UK

Looks like the RMT will need to be taken out just like the miners before them. This isn't about the oppressed joining together to force an improvement in poor pay and conditions. Its about a bunch of wide boy thugs holding the country to ransom. If Crow wants class war we should let him have it.

- Ab, St Albans, UK

WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT. NO DOUBT ORGANIZING AN EMERGENCY DEBATE TO BAN
STRIKES IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

- Alan Green, Woodford Green

Bob Crow is nothing but a power crazy militant.
The guy clearly needs psychological help if he thinks that can get his lawfully dismissed members re-instated!

- Simon, N16

Best ever service on the Northern line this morning.

If this service can be maintained tomorrow then the communist dinosaurs of the RMT should stay home for good!

Its time the tube was recognised as critical infrastructure and the tube workers denied the right to strike - they've proved time and again that they simply can't be trusted with it.

Failing that the law should be changed so that 51% of members entitled to vote must vote in favour of a strike before it can be held.

- Stew, London

He is standing next to a placard saying Safety Before Profit. Obviously not when one of his members is guilty of safety infringements and sacked.

- Patricia, LONDON

Stop moaning & get back to work, Tube drivers make more than police / fire / medical workers for driving what is an over sized fair ground ride.

40k - 35 holiday days - plus the odd strike

Where do I sign up?

A Job for life.. come on get real it's 2009 not 1972!

- Andy, London

What a prat

- C Cusano, Bedford

I understand Bob Crow holds his meeting in a pub and has now been banned for being so drunk at one of these meetings. This is not all train drivers just the ego driven RMT. Master Crow seems to love all the attention, shame he does not understand we hate him only a few members of the RMT think he is clever

- Gary, Brentwood 2

Sadly this is really all down to Bob Crow's delusions of grandeur. Sadly, old-style union organization is very vulnerable to exploitation by people with sociapathic personality problems.

- Sean, Coventry UK

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