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Tube strike is a success, says Bob Crow
Dick Murray11.06.09
Union boss Bob Crow today gloated over the "success" of the Tube strike as he threatened more walkouts.
The RMT leader said his members could launch fresh industrial action as early as two weeks' time - despite signs of the strike crumbling.
Many picket lines were deserted today and London Underground managed to run trains on nine out of 11 lines.
But millions of commuters were caught up in gridlock as central London took the brunt of the disruption.
Mr Crow turned up for a picket line at Queen's Park on the Bakerloo line, which was running a limited service.
He boasted about the industrial action. "I'm really pleased. It was a solid success," he said. "The whole city ground to a halt and the disruption it caused was all over the papers."
Despite apparent progress towards more talks, which could prevent further strikes, Mr Crow said: "If we don't make progress and come to an agreement with Transport for London, then we will definitely strike again.
"It won't be next week as you have to give seven days' [legal] notice but it could be as soon as the week after."
Some of his own members defied the strike today and rival union Aslef members ignored the picket lines, leading to LU being able to put 160 out of the normal 420 trains into service.
"I'm not surprised the other unions crossed the picket lines," added Mr Crow. "They've never supported us in the past and we never expected it."
Both the RMT and TfL say they are ready for face-to-face talks to try to settle the dispute, despite no meetings yet being scheduled. They are at loggerheads over a deal on compulsory redundancies and pay.
Mr Crow continued: "We've spent the night in talks, emailing, and I'm going to spend the rest of the day in meetings trying to resolve this.
"Things were going okay with talks at the start of the week and I think we were making progress until management pulled the plug."
A TfL spokesman said: "We are prepared to meet the union anywhere, anytime. We continue to urge the RMT leadership to call off this strike, to avoid further unnecessary disruption to London."
The RMT appeared to have been significantly weakened by its failure to bring the network to a complete standstill - the first time it has not had such an impact from an all-out strike.
Even a planned picket of TfL offices in Smith Square, Westminster, failed to happen. One woman, a member of trade union Unite, turned up to find she was alone.
Mayor Boris Johnson today said: "Massive numbers of people are on the move who have defied the strike. This is a testament to the weakness and fragility of the strike.
"The RMT have greatly undermined themselves by this action. They have caused a backlash of hostility from not only the public but also their members."
Commons leader Harriet Harman said in Parliament today: "Londoners cannot be held to ransom and their lives made a misery in relation to a dispute on the Tube, which is the backbone of London's transport structure."
Reader views (70)
I rode my bicycle (which broke two times this week) so I ended up taking a 2 hour bus journeys.
Why don’t we just replace all drivers with computer controlled system? Thameslink will do it, why can't London Tubes?
This strike is obviously illegal and it should be against the law for RMT to go on strike. Why? Because it has an economic impact on our country, people lose jobs, people may even die because ambulance, fire brigades or police can’t get to their destination in time due to congested roads. Nurses are not allowed to go on strike, why can they?
It just makes me sick.. I would rather walk to work every day then give in to their bullying.
How selfish !!!
- Mat, London
WHAT ARE WE - THE PUBLIC DOING ABOUT THIS EXCEPT COMMENTING!
Why don't we go on a strike for high ticket prices, constant delays (my favourite reason is leaves on the tracks or REGULATING THE SERVICE), hot conditions and a lack of air underground, over crowding and 7/10 times poor service from this highly paid and oh so highly skilled staff.
I believe in rights - of course if you can get it why not but providing such a terrible service on constant basis and then keep requesting more does not hold it with me.
I walked in total 8 hours in the last 2 days- yes it was not great with a bad back - but I did it and survived as so many of us did.
If so many of us managed to get to work in the last 48 hours why can we not hold them to ransom - WHY CAN WE NOT GO ON A STRIKE AS A PUBLIC WITH OUR RIGHTS, BETTER SERVICE AND NORMAL PRICES? or am I just being naive?
It amazes me that our grandparents and parents fought for their rights - we are doing very little - the minority is trying the majority stands and complains but does nothing. We want change yet we sit and do nothing - but RMT want change and do whatever they feel necessary.
- Anon, London
Success? Everyone made it into our office in the city.
He just wants attention, when a child acts like that you just ignore them and they soon give up, stop printing his ugly bloated mugshot in the papers and he'll stop bothering us.
- D.W., London
Without disputes Bob Crow is nothing. His only justification of his position and bloated salary is to generate unrest between the Union members and the "management". Crow is a dinosaur, steeped in the idiology of the 1970`s and as a communist will continue to create unrest regardless of the disruption and caos his members actions cause. Crow is a bully on a mission and the RMT members should wake up and realise that he only has his own interests at heart. Time they got shut of this menace and elected someone responsible as leader, or they will one day count the cost and regret his very existance.
- John E, Northants UK
Hi Bobb. You and your colleagues have cost this country tens of millions pounds in lost production- how are you going to repay us, or justify your cause?
- John Hogarth, london england
You are so memorable in people's minds Mr Crowe that hardly anyone can remember your name to how to spell it Mr Crowe.
- Albert Hall, hove england
Of course the strike would not have taken place under Ken Livingstone - he would have given in to Crow's outrageous demands! Crow - the harbinger of doom. An apt surname!
- Sue.Nw4, Hendon, London
There is no-one alive who claims not to have rights. Even the Queen cops it.In transit or not.
The Guardian reminds me today that the 18th century Rights of Man czar Thomas Paine - born just up the road from me at Thetford - travelled 3,500 miles to get away from things as simple as drinking a toast to the monarch. Like they chose not to do in his honour when celebrating the bicentenary of his death the other day.
So I dare say some would voyage twice as far not to toast dear Bob Crow after missing Wembley and other, more pressing appointments. While others might get drunk over his "success". And everybody's rights!
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Mildenhall, Suffolk.
I see that the same problems that once made Britain the "sick man of Europe" still exist over there!
- M. John Namrah, San Diego, USA
The guy's a loony.
Massive failure as a strike - people went about their business mostly as normal (except the emergency services, of course) and the tubes were fine.
Boris' preparations were ample to cater for the few that didn't show for work who have now proved that their jobs are no longer needed, totally the opposite effect that crowe was said to be aiming for.
apart from what he is aiming for is to be leader of a communist london.
- Norm, London
Harriet Harman said of the RMT "Londoners cannot be held to ransom and their lives made a misery..." Too right. That's the government's job.
- Austen, London
What a pity we cannot use the expertise of Mrs. Thatcher and get rid of this Crow man. He is trying to take us back into the 1970s where it was a strike a day. NO ONE HAS A JOB FOR LIFE NOW. GET REAL. They earn more than enough in this present climate, they are greedy b....rs.
Amber in Mitcham
- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey
I am an RMT member and went on strike in support of my job and my future. Contrary to what the press are writing, there was a deal to be done at ACAS and it never involved a 5% pay increase.
The fact is that 9000 people do not just go on strike on a whim and people should be asking what kind of management is in place that forces this type of reaction from its employees.
Its easy for people to pick out Bob Crow or Train Drivers and vilify them but the fact is they should be turning their attention the massive number of TfL Managers on over £100,000 a year and ask what exactly do they do!
Also, I was on a picket line during the strike and the truth is that anyone that actually asked what the dispute was really about and listened to us went away agreeing and supporting us.
There's two sides to a story and comments such as sack 'em all is exactly what led to this mess. Boris has made this mess and he should now sort it out
- Paul, London
Driverless trains anyone?
- David, London
C May of Bromley, Let me get this right, your brother in law is a tube driver, earns 40K/year, gets 6 weeks holiday/year and owns 5 houses? And still needs a pay rise? Its his own fault he owns 5 houses, why doesnt he get rid of them all?
Why should the people who pay to use the tube be paying for his 5 houses when most people can only afford 1 house. I think we should let the tubes strike in a fortnight, show Bob Crow that London can cope with out his bully tatics
- T, London,UK
The world rejoices at another successful union disruption of society.
- Trunk, US
Boris is a disgrace. Instead of trying to sort this dispute out, he is posturing whilst commuters struggle.
Under Ken, this strike would not have happened. A resolution would have been reached.
- Ian Marchant, surrey, uk
Arthur Scargill Mk. II. Sack the lot of them.
- Paul, Enfield., Enfield, Middlesex
me thinks he crows too loud. he may believe he's cock of
the coop for the moment, but I'm sure there are many
waiting to wring his neck and pluck his feathers.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
Tube strike is a success, crows Bob?
A success for who Crow?
It might be a success for certain bloated millitants, but certainly isn't for the hard working people of London.
- Peter Thurgood, London
A big "thank you" to Andy and his team at Hendon Central who were there when the station opened yesterday and today, and were friendly, helpful and cheerful. Well done lads!
- Sue, Nw4, Hendon, London
Do we need Dr Who to come and save us from this monster who wants to drag us all back to the 1970s?
I'd rather keep using my feet, my bicycle and the buses than give in to the RMT bullies.
Unless London faces down the Crownies, we don't deserve to host the Olympics
- Andy, London
This man will do for the Tube workers what Scargill did for the miners.
- Jimfred, London UK
Crow displays more ability to grasp detail in a 5 minute clip than Boris ever has.
Clearly the RMT gets better value and more hard work from Crow than we get from Boris.
He's clearly willing to roll his sleeves up and get involved rather than running away and leaving it to others.
- Fresh, London
The RMT seem to be the last bastion of an outdated union system . They should be speaking up for their members' interests rather than taking advantage of their position to make the public suffer - they're worse than politicians trying to milk the system for all they can get rather than seeking to do what is right for the majority - I thought they were supposed to be left wingers !
- Richard, London
Bob Crow for Mayor!
- Fresh, London
Sorry Bob but your wrong. You may have caused some disruption but people struggled through it and more perserved. All you have done is shown Londoners the contempt you have for them and how you have no interest in anyone but yourself and your own private war with management. The fact that you had the audacity to use the re-instatement of two members rightly sacked, shows that your arguement about safety is flawed, as one of those sacked was responsible for opening the doors of a tube on the wrong side...maybe if the person responsible paid more attention to the job they are overpiad to do then they might still be employed.
Any respect you may have had is gone, as is your credibility.
- Alan, East London
It was a success Bob for Boris, he now knows he has the public firmly behind him.
- Gary, Brentwood 2
Bob Crow is so thick-skinned,he won't even realise we're criticising him-what a nasty piece of work he is-Worse,he's not terribly bright.He won't lose pay in this strike,but his poor,down-trodden members will.He's a disgrace.
- Maura Casey, London UK
A comment for Anand:
I don't agree with this strike at all, it is unnecessary and has done nothing to resolve the core issues. If anything it has damaged the Union. However, the wider picture is that lots of people complain that RMT members on the Tube already have excellent pay and conditions. This is true, but these were not just doled out to them by a grateful employer. They have come about because the Union has fought for them.
Many people have commented over the last two days that the strikers should get back to work and don't know how lucky they are with the offer on the table. Most of the same people have stated that they would love to be in the position of the strikers vis a vis their pay etc.
I can see why the strike went ahead - if striking and being bullish has got them benefits in the past, why would they change the tactic now? The people who moan and say they aren't able to strike and have to work longer, harder etc don't make an attractive argument for RMT members to follow. Who is going to give up a good thing and make life harder for themselves?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The RMT don't think striking is broke yet, so no-one's given them a good enough reason to try any other tactic...
- Nick, London
Wouldn't consider 1/4 of all trains running a success mr Crow! In some areas that counts as a good service!
- Dominic, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
If they don't want to do the job for the money they are getting: sack them. there are plenty of jobs out there ... NOT!
- Carsten, London
dont be so cruel people my b inn laws a tube driver he needs his rise he owns 5 houses only gets 40 000 a year and only gets 6 weeks holidays a year.bring back trams to london then they will not be able to hold us to ransome every year or have some roads into london public transport only
- C May, bromley
I worked from home today. I support Bojo and the train drivers that kept the system running. Bob crow needs to be knocked down to size. The public should not suffer because of the ego of one man or the greed of a few drivers.
- Geri, London
Mr Crow is a Relic from the past,He is behaving as we still live in the 1980's. Call a strike and we get paid more,NO. Come into the real world if you can? No DOUBT your Pension is a good one?
- Bill Williams, Chateau Gontier France
Bob Crow a man stuck in the 7O/80s! - I'm sure I saw him in Ashes to Ashes - The remains of old striking Britain which was once great until ruined by the strikes!
- Pedro Carvalho, London
You just have to look at this guy to understand what kind of person he is.
Just go back slouching on your sofa, munching on some junk food while having yet another pint in front of the telly while you leave the rest of us getting on with our lives.
- Marco, Notting Hill, London
Bob Crow is a throw back to those old days when union bosses snapped their fingers and politicians came a running. But no more, keep up the pressure on him Boris. dont give in or you will regret it time after time.
- Barry Arnold, Chelsmford Essex , UK.
Crow is making his union members look like idiots
- St, London
The motto is to down size and cut the cost of London transport.The scale of misery unleashing to the tube commuters is immeasurable. The mayor does not have the resolve to dismiss the whole tube train drivers and other fat cat salary staff in the tube system. He should bring trained drivers and other supporting staff from India, where the average monthly salary is not greater than GBP500.00. You are talking about the hyper inflated cost of GBP4.00 for travelling from one station to the next in the London tube system, which is not prevalent in any where in the world.
If the government or the mayor could bring 6 month contract for Indian or Chinese train drivers, at single person accommodation, the cost can be drastically reduced.
It is time that RMT people behaved with some self regulation.
John George
- Chembukkavu John, Thrissur, INDIA
Am I the only one that sees the beauty in this strike?
Instead of being stuck in a smelly hot train like a sardine, you get to see what's above the ground in London.
- Josh, London
What a thoroughly unpleasant man! He really gives Gordon Brown some stiff competition to the Most Hated Man in London title.
- Clare Connell, London
Yes, it was a success but not as you know it. You succeeded in showing that you and you union are out of touch with the realities of life in this current recession. A 5% pay rise is unrealistic. People are losing their jobs all over the place and we, the tax paying ticket buying, public can not afford you. Also no jobs are for life. We are all subject to being made redundant or fired (especially if we (allegedly)open doors on the wrong side, or caught stealing or lie about safety). In the 60's the dockers took a similar line and where are they now. In the 70's and 80's it was the print union. Carry on like this Mr Crow and your future, and that of your union, is clear.
- Jeremy E, Home Counties
The strike is selfish and irresponsible! Did anyone tell this Neanderthal that we are in the middle of a recession? Alot of people who have a job are walking on egg shells as it is, getting into work at 11am because of the strike does not look good there are no doubt some smug colleagues come into work via Train, cycling or walking and can be in for 9am as usual! I left north London at 7.30am and usually would have got into work at 8.45pm, however, today and yesterday I only got in at 11am, shortly followed by an unhelpful sarcastic comment from my boss! By the way you Neanderthal you didn't stop me getting in I would have walked if I had to. I don't think anyone should give in to such ludicrous demands of a 5% pay rise in such hard times. Just be grateful you have a job! A thank you to all the tube drivers and staff that went in to work and did the job they signed up to do...to the rest of you GET BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY, SELFISH SO and SO's, if you don’t like your job find another one!
- Kc, London
I would much prefer to continue walking than give in to this monkey.
- Andrew, London
Ronal Reagan took on Air Traffic controllers and won. He simply sacked the wasters. Did the USA air space grind to a halt? No.
Pathtetic LU management needs cohones. This is a great opportunity to clear out the dinosaur dross working for LU and get young people into the business free of Scargill-Crowe union baggage. Sack the strikers.
- James Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, NY
Good job Bob. At least there's still a union leader who cares about his members. Bring on more strikes!
- Terry Amber, London
I think it is disgusting that the only people that suffer in all of this is the paying customer. I did not receive a pay rise this year but still have to pay more for my monthly travel card. Do you think the members of the board of TFL travel by tube, I think not!!!
- Justine, London
"The whole city ground to a halt..."
No it didn't. One of my members of staff was five minutes late but it has been business as usual.
Terrorists and Nazis can't stop this city so what makes you think some selfish militants would make much difference. It may be a big ‘power trip’ for Bob “I’ll bring this city to it’s knees” Crow but it just makes him an enemy of the people and an unpopular union leader.
- Ben, London, W1
sack every one of the striking tube workers and give the jobs to people more deserving!
- Commuter, london
"The whole city ground to a halt and the disruption it caused was all over the papers." Bob Crow
Sorry Bob it didn't. Beginning of the end for you and your union. People have had enough of the blackmail and bullying and so, apparently, have a lot of your members who continued to work.
- John David, London
I wonder what he'd mean by "failure"?
- Nigel, London
Crow is right.The majority of his members supported the strike.Even girls from TFL offices weere used to man stations and unqualified staff trained only on simulaters were operating signals.Boris pulled the plug on a deal deliberately.Which is he why he bottled out of a joint interview with Crow on Channel 4 news.
- Colin, barking essex
Why is it called industial "action" when clearly it is total INaction?
- L.Taubler, London / ENGLAND
What planet is he on - we haven't ground to a halt!
- Sb, London
This is clearly some use of the word "success" I have never come across before!
How about we have a whip round and buy Crow a dictionary?
- Kw, Bow
Instead of her usual nauseating grand-standing, perhaps Ms Harman could actually do something useful for the huge salary she receives, and introduce a No Strike clause for ALL essential service workers. This clearly would not effect her. as her services are not only totally non-essential, but of very dubious value to anyone except her bank balance.
- Sick Of Unions., London / ENGLAND
This realy needs to be looked into, it's clear some people's jobs aren't valued as much as others, but they clearly when so many people rely on these sevices every day of their live.
Lets get it sorted.
- Tv'S, Cowdenbeath
Sack them, disband the union .. Thatcher did it, Regan did it ........... shows it can obviously be done. Todays governments are too weak though !
- Just Do It, London
We are definitely being held to ransom. How pathetic that RMT would disrupt the lives of ordinary Londoners to earn just a few miserable extra pounds.
- Anastasia Beaverhausen, London, UK
do they get paid while their on strike???? i had a 40 min walk to work and a 40 min walk back to waterloo. i can tell you that i will do it again and again and again if i have too. i'm just a normal working chap who's trying earn a living for my family but I ain't going to be bullied. they aren't going to beat me. you call as many strikes as you want fatty crow because you ain't going to win............
- Jonny, London
The sooner London Underground use automated trains the better.
- Simon Ellis, London
What an absolute SLOB. Here comes another Arthur Scargill!!!
- Jim Jacques, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
Crow is a dinosaur who appears to be living on the same distant planet as MPs and investment bankers who in their own way are as out of touch with current reality as he is. It's not clear to me why his members should be a protected species while the rest of us live according to the rule of survival of the fittest. A plague etc......
- Martin Davies, Guildford, UK
A success, where has Bob Crow been? More strikes, bring it on!!! I have been at work both days, as have all my colleagues. I would rather walk every day than have anyone give in to RMT.
- Lyn, London
Crow seems a power hungry man who like many in power makes life hell for everyone else.
- Tony Islander, Herts
We need an incoming government to smash these bloody unions. They are really getting on my nerves. They have excellent pay and working hours and super holiday entitlements, no doubt their pensions are rather cushy too. To be so greedy and opportunist as they are is disgraceful in this dire economic climate.
When we have record rising unemployment these greedy piggies want pay rises and guarantees of no job losses, what planet do they live on?
- Anand, Camden, London
You're a blood sucker Mr Crow and the rest of RMT too!!!
- Soc, London
Someone put Bob cow out of our misery...
What a complete waste of space this person is. I'd love to see if anyone thinks that a train drivers pay and conditions are not good enough. Bob Crow will always find an excuse to have a strike. He treats his union as his personal fiefdom.
- David S., Ealing
"Many picket lines were deserted today"
Of course they were, the freeloaders were all at home with hangovers after going down the pub to watch the footie.
- Bob, Cheam
