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Boris pushes for new law to curb strikes on the Tube
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor22 Oct 2009
Boris Johnson is set to urge the next Tory government to introduce tough anti-strike laws in a bid to curb stoppages of the Tube.
The Mayor's office is proposing a ban on any strike which fails to get a required minimum turnout in a ballot of union members.
The move appears to be aimed squarely at the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, which this year staged industrial action after a ballot in which less than a third of members voted.
Senior aides to Mr Johnson would not comment publicly on the plan, but failed to deny that it was being discussed.
A hardline stance on unions would further endear the Mayor to the Conservative Party's rank and file, and may boost his popularity among Londoners weary of Tube strikes that appear to be caused by trivial issues.
Thousands of London Underground workers are to be balloted for strikes in a long-running dispute over pay, threatening travel chaos on the Tube in the run-up to Christmas.
Reader views (18)
Typical Tory nonsense to divert attention away from the fact that fares are going up and services are being cut by good old Boris who everyone thought was going to be a terribly good egg, but turns out to be nothing but a true blue Tory who lives up to the true blue Tory trick of cuts, cuts, and more cuts...God help this country if they...or Labour...win the next election. We really do need a revolution.
- Mark H, London, England, 22/10/2009 23:16
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Whilst the private sector is forced to take pay cuts and job losses, the public sector is full of lazy bureaucrats with gold-plated final salary pensions and jobs for life. Nowhere more so than in the joke that is the underground and the RMT!
Did you see the video of that awful RMT man saying to an old man: "sling him under a train" on the platform? Yet if he was fired I bet Bob Crow would call a strike!
- Kate, Harrow, London, UK
Kate - with such uniformed people as you mouthing off we should all be ok. How I wish you were in charge - never letting the facts get in the way of decision making will see us through no problem.
TfL is in the middle of a cost reduction scheme that has seen 1,000 LU backroom jobs go and there's more to come, so they are suffering the pain just like every other busines.
That 'awful RMT' man actually isn't a member of the RMT, so despite evryone banging on about how Bob Crow is going to shut the system down if he gets sacked, nothing of the sort is going to happen.
All of this has been reported and is in the public domain, but let's not worry about facts, let's just make wild statements based on our uninformed prejudices because it really helps move the debate forward...
- Nick, London, 22/10/2009 16:27
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Hi Adam, LUL and the RMT are both guilty of bieng at the very least pig headed when it comes to agrring on anything, but one thing i can say for sure is thta when they have an agreement it is LUL's management that decide to break it, As for the recent strike on pay, it should be the one year deal and LUL staff should just suffer the low rise like the rest of us, when times are better then pay rises will be higher.
- Brian, Wiltshire, 22/10/2009 15:59
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The Underground workers have got no one to blame except themselves. The average person using the tube would love a job with job security, annual pay rises and a good pension. This is still not enough for some, and a good dose of reality is needed.
- Stephen, London, 22/10/2009 15:26
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About time too. Let's hope Britain's opt out of the European Charter holds water, or article 28 (which includes the "right" to strike) may scupper this. Not that it will stop France which will simply ignore it: opt out or not.
- Alan J, UK, 22/10/2009 15:25
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This would fit right in here in the UK,why should strikers have a democratic right to strike when we our governed by a Dictator,and soon to be governed by another Dictator.Since Communism rules our country,I see no reason for allowing such democratic rights as to strike,just ask Comrade Brown or Comrade Cameron,the two Communists that refuse to give us the British people our Democratic vote on Europe.
- Dave, london, 22/10/2009 14:52
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With the Olympics looming in 2012 the whole country will be held to ransom by these Unions unless legislation is put in place. To those who argue about having the right to "withdraw your labour" - in the private sector its called getting a new job, something that seems alien to Bob Crow and his cronies.
- Nickspurs, London, 22/10/2009 13:42
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This might seem like a good decision to the average badly informed commuter, but it isn't. I used to work in a big public sector organisation in central London. The managers were always looking at new ways to pay the vast majority of staff less, cut corners, sack people, push them around, force them to work unreasonable hours at the same time as defending their own ridiculous salaries, short hours, huge pensions and other benefits. The same thing will happen on the Underground without strong unions.
- Matt, London UK, 22/10/2009 12:40
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Sense at last ! We always hear about how much the strikes cost London, it should be illegal. If they don't want their well paid and cushy jobs, give it to them that do !
- Graz, aylesbury, 22/10/2009 11:52
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Good stuff, Boris, this is exactly the sort of thing which will benefit the vast majority of Londoners.
Thank goodness we have a mayor more interested in the majority of Londoners than in pursuing silly little vanity projects like pedestrianising Parliament Square.
- St, London, 22/10/2009 11:03
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Perhaps if the directors of London Underground and Boris kept to the deals that they strike with the RMT then most ballots would not take place. So why doesnt Boris try and get on with the unions and stick to the deals.
- Tony, Clacton, 22/10/2009 10:53
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Good for Boris. The ever-looming threat of strikes on public transport, was one of the reasons I left London five years ago. People have to be able to get to work.
- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK, 22/10/2009 10:33
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The only way Boris can possibly justify removing tube workers' legal right to withdraw their labour is by making a case that the tube is an absolutely essential public service, in the same way that the police cannot strike.
But, of course, we all know he doesn't actually believe its essential at all, doesn't use it himself, and he would happily sell off the the entire system to the highest bidder just to be shot of it. Truth is, he'd prefer just to remove ALL workers right to withdraw their labour, because that's his politics.
- Richard, London UK, 22/10/2009 09:59
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Excellent idea Boris!
Bob Crow and his mates need to be brought down a few pegs.
Whilst the private sector is forced to take pay cuts and job losses, the public sector is full of lazy bureaucrats with gold-plated final salary pensions and jobs for life. Nowhere more so than in the joke that is the underground and the RMT!
Did you see the video of that awful RMT man saying to an old man: "sling him under a train" on the platform? Yet if he was fired I bet Bob Crow would call a strike!
- Kate, Harrow, London, UK, 22/10/2009 09:33
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Typical Tory toff's policy. No control on super bonuses for the rich bankers and hedge fund managers who gamble with (and lose) the country's savings. Restrict the rights and wages of the people who do the real work and create the wealth of the country.
- Mick, London, England, 22/10/2009 09:25
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Good for him.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 22/10/2009 09:25
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Ooh, does that mean politicians who don't get a minimum turnout won't be allowed to take their seats? That'll be bad news for some of Boris's borough chums, elected on mid-30s turnouts.
- Tom, London, UK, 22/10/2009 09:24
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Every 12 months or so ASLEF and the RMT unions ballot their members for stike action to improve health and safety, pay and conditions.
It strikes me (pun intended) the union leaders are not doing a very good job for their members if the pay and condition deals agreed to by them are so inadequate they have to be so drastically improved a few months later.
If I was a train driver I would want much better union leaders representing me at the bargaining table.
- Adam, Eastcote, UK, 22/10/2009 09:21
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