RMT leader Bob Crow has called for 'immediate talks' with Mayor Boris Johnson
Nicholas Cecil and Dick Murray9 May 2011
RMT leader Bob Crow this afternoon called for immediate and direct talks with the Mayor to "resolve" the dispute before five days of strikes begin next Monday and another five days in June.
Mr Crow said: "The time has come for common sense to prevail and for Boris Johnson and his officials to meet with us directly to resolve this dispute - not least in our latest victory in the Employment Tribunal on Friday proving conclusively unfair dismissal - for Bakerloo line driver Eamonn Lynch - on the grounds of trade union activities."
He added: "All that we are seeking to do is get our unfairly dismissed members back to work doing the job that they are being paid by Londoners to do - driving Tube trains."
Earlier today, Boris Johnson involved in a furious row with government ministers over his handling of the union that is threatening the longest series of Tube strikes ever.
He was told to get off "his backside" and talk to Bob Crow as Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Mayor had to "reach out" to the unions.
One Tory minister has reportedly "apologised" to a Lib-Dem colleague because Mr Johnson was "behaving in an embarrassing way" over the strikes due to start next Monday.
Mr Johnson hit back, branding the ministers "adolescent" and telling them to "pull their finger out" and bring in tougher labour laws to prevent such industrial action.
In a sign that Lib-Dems are ready for public bust-ups after losing 695 town hall seats and the AV vote, Mr Cable warned that ministers were "not in the mood" to be blamed for Mr Johnson's "lack of strategy" for dealing with unions.
Employment relations minister Ed Davey went further, insisting Mr Johnson should stop asking the Government to solve the problem and criticising the Mayor for failing to meet RMT leaders for talks for two years.
Mr Davey said: "That suggests Boris Johnson should have got off his backside and engaged with Bob Crow and RMT members, however difficult they are.
"Boris is trying to pass the buck when actually the buck stops with City Hall." Mr Davey firmly pinned the blame for the series of Tube strikes on the RMT. But he, Mr Cable and senior Conservative ministers believe Mr Johnson should have worked harder seeking to build union relations.
A source close to the Business Secretary said: "Boris should take a lead from the Coalition and reach out to the unions in the first instance before trying to get a change in the law."
The row comes after the Mayor branded the Government "lily-livered" in failing to toughen up laws on strike votes. The first wave of strikes will begin next Monday with walkouts every day until Friday 20 May.
A second wave is scheduled to begin on Monday, 13 June, with strike action every day up to Friday 17 June.
Mr Johnson is refusing to meet Mr Crow for talks unless the union lifts the threat of strikes called in support of two sacked drivers.
The Mayor has called for a minimum participation in ballots for strikes of 50 per cent for them to be lawful, pointing out that just 29 per cent of RMT union drivers voted for the walk-outs. His aides strongly rejected the Lib-Dem attacks. "Their criticism betrays a fundamental ignorance and misunderstanding of the coherent and persistent strategy that has been pursued at City Hall," said a senior source.
The Mayor was ready for strategic talks with the RMT if it allowed a "window" when there was not the threat of strike action. Mr Crow said: "Our campaign to get our members reinstated, to get them back driving, which is what they are being paid to do, will continue."
Tube bosses will seek to run as many services as possible on strike days. Peter Hendy, the capital's transport commissioner, said he was "optimistic" London Underground will be able to deliver a "decent service". Plans include having as many managers and other non-striking staff at stations to support those who want to work and to dilute threatening picket lines.
Hundreds of extra buses will be laid on.
An employment tribunal last week ruled that one of the drivers was unfairly dismissed. There is no decision yet on the second driver. Both remain at home on £45,000-a-year pay.
Reader views (81)
This bunch of Communists truck drivers are disrupting Business Social meetings Familee agendars Lovers all for a case of deep hatred bitterness and pure thuggery, Dont like the job or conditions then nick off and start your own train business --and good luck too you all,Then you can swear and abuse one another till the cows come home.
- Howard, Stoskwood, 12/05/2011 10:20
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What is the Truth? Are the RMT TUBE STRIKES Called-OFF or NOT? BORIS seems to have contributed Nothing to assisting in Improving Industrial Relations. At least, KEN did make strident efforts to improve Public Transport for Londoners; his CROSS-RIVER TRAM Project would have considerably eased the pressure on the tubes: from CAMDEN's KINGS CROSS and Adjacent MAIN-LINE Rail Terminii, through Central London via WATERLOO to CLAPHAM JUNCTION and a long overdue Link to Peckham in SOUTH LONDON. BORIS Cancelled the TRAMS Two Years Ago!
- JUSTIN FROMM, PRIMROSE HILL N W, 10/05/2011 17:16
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but it seems thatcher done her job here didn't she. most of britain don't have the slightest clue how to defend themselves against this treatment any more. what an imbarrisment you lot are!!!
another perfect example of the education policy left behind by the useless regime that luckily has been booted out and will never be in power again
Thatcher did her job, what a load of rubbish you spout out. I suppose you don't know that any office joke is now treated as a potential sackable offence. Why don't you take a look at the amendments to the equality law that Ms Harriet i've ruined the UK Harman put in.
Also take a look at the unemployment rates regarding graduates, take a look at all the redundancies taking place from public sector companies that were ruined when the amazing PFI scheme was bought in. How about you take a read about public sector pensions and how many have lost a lot of their savings, once again because of who?
I'm more embarrassed at people who can defend the useless pathetic bunch of no hopers that have destroyed this country since 1997. You lot want this country to go do the dogs and be worse than Somalia. Fine, I look forward to seeing crime rates higher than South Africa, unemployment rates at 54% etc. But at least those labour jokers are in.
Labour, embarrassing the UK since it was first formed. Please destroy the uesless bigoted never our fault idiots!
- Steve, In la la land, 10/05/2011 12:14
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@ Ian. No of course you're not. There are plenty of idiots out there that compare striking with blowing up trains and killing and maiming people.
- Pat Redmond, Hemel Hempstead, 10/05/2011 10:40
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well, if he don't like being called a scab, the best thing to do is don't scab!!!
- tom, london, 10/05/2011 09:03
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Point of order, Tom, the tribunal has only decided in favour of Mr. Lynch, there has been no decision as far as Mr. Thomas, who allegedly called a manager working on a strike day at Kennington station a “scab”. LUL should give Lynch his job back and RMT should call off the strike then wait until the verdict comes in on Thomas.
Obviously this won’t happen as LUL’s management and RMT’s London organisers are both as pig headed as each other so I will be driving very crowded trains next week.
I read somewhere that the reason Boris doesn’t talk directly to the unions is because Peter Hendy advises him not to. Boris likes to delegate, that’s why he’s got so many deputies.
Ms Poppins, you either have to go to Eton, edit the Spectator, get elected as an MP and then present Have I got news for you or you have to get a job working on the track at night, go to lots of dull meetings, become matey with everyone until they elect you as union rep and then start to climb your way up to Gen Sec.
Strangely both methods take about 20-25 years.
- ASLEF shrugged, Leyton, London, 10/05/2011 06:03
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Am I the only one who is beginning to see parallels between Tube workers and Islam?Large numbers of reasonable people who for some reason are unable or unprepared to constrain a small number of extremists who get them all a bad name. Now Bin Laden is gone is Crow the biggest terror threat to London?
- Ian, Highbury, London, 09/05/2011 23:56
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Boris is a pointless immature idiot, who's just interested in money and self-publicity for doing sod-all work.
Oh hang on, so's Bob Crow...
How do I get one of these jobs?
- Mary Poppins, Marylebone, 09/05/2011 22:41
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it really makes me laugh just how many people out there begrudge a working class person earning a livable wage. or the fact there's still working class people out there that haven't forgotten how to defend themselves against greedy bullying bosses. lets just stop all this crow bashing for a second and look at the cause of this despute. these men were most definately sacked solely because of their union activity, as proven at the recent tribunal. LUL management have been caught out and now need to hang their heads in shame, reinstate these drivers and appoligise to londoners for causing this mess. what would you people honestly expect a union to do when 2 of their members are being unlawfully sacked? get a grip, it's what the RMT are supposed to do. i feel really sorry for you people out there that have never been part of a union. never had your colligues banding together in suport of you for being bullied by your employers. it must be awfull having to go to work each day, grovelling to your boss, laughing at his rubbish jokes, stabbing your mates in the back and accepting ever longer hours for ever shrinking pay just to keep your jobs. i don't envy you one bit. but it seems thatcher done her job here didn't she. most of britain don't have the slightest clue how to defend themselves against this treatment any more. what an imbarrisment you lot are!!!
- tom, london, 09/05/2011 22:25
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This is among the most futile discussion I have seen in a long time. There are two polar and largely wrong sets of arguments going on. There are lots of interesting points being raised on both sides but most of them are nonsense. Very few people seem to have read the transcript of the tribunal – it is highly equivocal as to merits of the action. It does criticise the driver. Bob Crow, bless him and his megaphone diplomacy, is also misrepresenting the situation and the strike is clearly without justification this time.
- Sir Stu Pidfool, Republic of E20, 09/05/2011 21:39
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@ Neil: 'Legislation is the only way forward, or sacking all of them who insist on holding the country to ransom.'
You don't need any legislation to sack someone skiving at work, posting on the Evening Standard in between twitter and facebook, hiding behind a pseudonym so the boss doesn't figure out there's a bone idle so and so in the company. All with added Dutch courage courtesy of a liquid lunch. It's called fraud or just plain stealing. Even the RMT wouldn't waste their time with thieving employees caught red-handed.
Crow, Crow, Crow. It's people like me that voted for this strike, not Brother Bob. If I was I indifferent (the usual), I'd not bother voting. If I was against, I'd vote No. If I really thought this was taking liberties - as when I was a member of ASLEF in the Mick Rix strike of 2001 which even the RMT refuse to join - I'd come to work and scab, and the union can make sure I never rejoin. After all I work alone. I don't need to worry about being sent to Coventry etc. Sometimes it's a result when some people blank you.
- Pat Redmond, Hemel Hempstead, 09/05/2011 20:27
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Rob London you seem to miss out the part about unreliable witness - the email i'n question was to be confidential as not to affect the outcome of the case . The document also says it was concerned about the missing transcript from the controller I could go on. I think your forefather would be more concerned at the education it seems you have gained or not that he fought for
- Markymark, London, 09/05/2011 19:31
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Tiberius and Mark Williams.Its very satisfying to tell a useless Boss, No your wrong and not get sacked ,but I'm afraid you need unity amongst the workforce to do this,I'm afraid this only happens when you have a union.I feel sorry for the youngsters who've never experienced this.
- bazza, London, 09/05/2011 19:28
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Crow should not have to be calling for these talks, Johnson should have been talking sincs day one, it is his job to look after ALL Londoners.
- Sebastian Strongton, London, 09/05/2011 18:39
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For Pete's sake, why do we vote career politicians in and then expect them to do anything ?
All they care about is their image and how that affects them getting re-elected.
Bojo must resign now !
And we don't want Livingstone back either.
- Madmax, London, UK, 09/05/2011 18:31
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@colin, barking essex
Spoken like a true brainwashed Crow follower!
- Fed Up, London, 09/05/2011 16:51
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Spoken like true management lackey!
- colin, barking essex, 09/05/2011 17:38
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OMG - I have just read the judgement from the RMT website. I cannot believe that when the Unions were set-up and fought for they were to help protect the moronic, aggressive ( says so in the judgement several times), confrontational (says so in the judgement several times) driver - and when you read through clearly you will be astonished at the way they and the Union have acted in this. A Bullying and Harassment claim because he was offended others were copied into an email.
This judgement, once read, shows us just why this country is in the mess it is in. And to think my forefather fought for the Unions to have recognition. If he had seen what it has now become he would be holding his head in shame.
Disgusting.
- Rob, London, 09/05/2011 17:21
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Why do people say its Crow? I understand Bob Crow is the General Secretary but he didnt vote for strike action, it was the union members that voted for strike action so there must be a problem. Judges actually said that LUL were wrong to have dismissed one of the drivers....if they havn't reversed their decision then its LULs fault, not the people working on the Underground. It sounds like the union and its members are doing there job properly and standing up for injustice. Boris is a bufoon anyway and makes me laugh that he is Mayor of such a great city, how Londoners voted for i'll never know! Anyway, people should be venting their anger at LUL bosses and not anyone else.
- Q, Plymouth, England, 09/05/2011 17:19
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@John Moss, London
The VERY LAST thing Bob Crow and others of his ilk want is an educated workforce! Bob reminds me of one of the Pigs in Animal farm!
think about it,it would make his job of pulling the wool over the eyes of the workforce just a bit too difficult! No Bob likes a nice dim witted crew of yes men who know how just enough to put cross in the right box on strike ballot day they need know nothing more as far as he is concerned!
- Fed Up, London, 09/05/2011 17:19
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I have just read on the RMT website that the employment tribunals findings are damming to LUL managers.They have been identified as liars,colluding with each other to ensure and uphold the dismissal,stating a reason for the sacking was because he was a union rep,then denying saying it,even though it is on the summary dismissal notice. Rather than sack the worker, shouldn't senior LUL managers be more concerned with employing managers who can manage and not merely dullards who have a political axe to grind with a strong effective trade union?The script from the ET is available online and names and shames the managers.Discuss !!
- borisismental, london, 09/05/2011 16:59
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Has anybody else noticed that the strikes will affect GCSE students travelling in for exams?
Not only does Bob Crow want to wreck the London economy, he wants to destroy the life chances of London's children.
- John Moss, London, 09/05/2011 16:59
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S.M Hearman , i take your point and well put, but in this case the person we are talking about was unreasonably dismissed and a court decided that after hearing all the evidence, so i feel LUL should do the decent thing and re-instate him or pay the compensation, thats why we have a judicial system so people are not unlawfully treated.
I still feel that although you have a point, the best way forward is by open honest management, its Mr Crow that is unreasonable and scaremongering with his members and it appears to me that LUL just throw fuel at the fire , they really need to step forward and be honest with there workforce , i am sure this will isolate the RMT and Crow, like i say most people are reasonable and when all the evidence is in front of them they will make an educated choice, i know striking will not be one of them.
- Brian, Wiltshire, 09/05/2011 16:54
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@colin, barking essex
Spoken like a true brainwashed Crow follower!
- Fed Up, London, 09/05/2011 16:51
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Strikes by public servants should be outlawed. The transport system in the UK is for the public, the people that run it, by definition, are public servants. Change the laws, it's that simple. The public are fed up with being held to ransome. As we have no guts at the top, the law should have the guts.
- Tube Traveller, London, 09/05/2011 16:46
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Mike williams, you sound like you are underworked and overpayed, i think you should be sacked , and someone who could do your job for less employed, or maybe you are un-employed in that case stop scrounging you lazy so n so, or maybe retired,well i dont want to pay money into your pension so give it back, or perhaps you r a just hypocrite , tht sounds more like it .
- Brian, Wiltshire, 09/05/2011 16:42
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Johnson will not meet Crow because his usual waffling bluster and attempts at humour will cut no ice with Crow.His incompetent underlings at TFL and LUL are the ones that need sacking.Get in people with a knowledge and understanding of the industry and the industrial relations will improve 100%.
- colin, barking essex, 09/05/2011 16:36
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Frankly i dont care if tube drivers earn 42k or 142 k, i just want the tubes to run strike free, please you morons in LUL, TFL, and RMT talk!! stop the sticking out of tongues and name calling just sit down and stop this irritating bullshit, thankyou !!
- Brian, Wiltshire, 09/05/2011 16:35
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Brian, I take your point that people fought for the right to strike and be in unions but times were different then, there were no real work employment laws and people where not so covered in the work place. Now they are taken advantage of at every turn and we end up with situations like we have now. Something has to be changed to stop this occurring whenever someone gets sacked for doing something they shouldn't have done. Don't you remember the fiasco about the workers sacked at Farringdon for drinking on the job and the strikes because of them? I'm not saying sack them all, you are getting ahead of yourself. Just people who go out of their way to cause misery to normal working people. If they really wanted to stick it to the 'man' and get the support of tube traveling public,they would find another way to throw their toys of the pram. Do not ask me how they'd do it, I'm not a member of the RMT!
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 09/05/2011 16:32
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The amount of hot air these two windbags are capable of generating in just one hour, would I have calculated be sufficient to heat the houses of Parliament 24 hours a day for a month. Now that is what I call energy recycling.
- Fed Up, London, 09/05/2011 16:26
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At last, the lovable Boris, not quite good-enough, has been found out. Our know-nothing, do-nothing, Mayor, isn't capable of running our beautiful city. Innit? Bye bye Boris. Nice try. X
- Abie Vee, Hendon NW$$, 09/05/2011 16:26
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Eton never taught Boris how to talk as he was always sitting in the corner sucking his thumb.
Boris is more interested in his mistress getting a job in TFL than solving the mess we are in.
- dave, london, 09/05/2011 16:23
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At last, the lovable Boris, not quite good-enough, has been found out. Our know-nothing, do-nothing, Mayor, isn't capable of running our beautiful city. Innit? Bye bye Boris. Nice try. X
- Abie Vee, Hendon NW$$, 09/05/2011 16:23
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cant we just blames the banks?
- evermoreconcerned, London, 09/05/2011 16:02
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If it was the other way around and Bob Crow refused to speak to Boris what would the Boris lovers of the country say?
And also remember Boris is the main man in charge, all he has to do is talk nothing else, but he seems to think that Londoners are all prepared to suffer strikes and will stick by him. Bring on the Mayoral elections!!!
- Dave, Watford, 09/05/2011 15:52
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Bob Crow needs a punch.
- WooHoo, Fulham, 09/05/2011 15:51
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@ Phil
The average RMT worker fed up with strikes? Simply not true. In the December strike, of the 192 staff balloted just 80 took part in the vote, with only 38 voting for strike action - less than 20 per cent. If RMT workers really don't want strikes they should try voting against them.
- Pete, London, London, 09/05/2011 15:44
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@ Phil
Ah well, many people who lose the argument resort to personal abuse. As for lack of regard for me, I would expect nothing less from an RMT activist with regard to his passenger.
- MIKE WILLIAMS, London, 09/05/2011 15:38
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42 grand is a very good wage, nearly twice the national average. I would be willing to see the drivers get that provided they didn't spend half their lives on strike.
- Pete, London, BEXLEY, 09/05/2011 15:09
I agree with you. Train Drivers are well paid blue collar workers, but there is no doubt they earn it. The Office of National statistics put the average UK wage at just under £26K ( a disgrace in my view). The gap in pay between those who manage and those who deliver services is far too wide. I'm sure there is no one more bored with endless RMT strike ballots than the AVERAGE RMT member.
- Phil, London, 09/05/2011 15:35
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Its a deliberate tactic. The more that BOJO distances himself from the Tory led Govt the more he increases his chances of re-election. He migt do what Ken did and stand as an Independent Tory.
- dhan raj, basildon, 09/05/2011 15:32
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I don't think the drivers each work 364 days a year so your facts need a little work. Nor do they work more unsocial hours than I do. My average working week is about 60 hours - not uncommon among Londoners - drivers do 35 hours a week. A driver on the Tube earns £42k+, compared with many trained nurses on about £20k. My heart bleeds for you.
- MIKE WILLIAMS, London, 09/05/2011 15:03
You dodge my questions in a pathetic fashion. Also your 364 day a year response is childlike. To make matters worse you get a basic fact, which is in the public domain, incorrect. A poor post all round. Please don't let your heart bleed for me for I have no regard for you.
- Phil, London, 09/05/2011 15:21
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Doesn't winning an employment tribunal merely mean the sacking process may have been incorrect rather than the reasons - RMT only came out because they could not risk letting the procedure defined in law take its course (as usual)
- Johnny Reggae, south east, 09/05/2011 15:10
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Phil, London
You have answered your own question. 42 grand is a very good wage, nearly twice the national average. I would be willing to see the drivers get that provided they didn't spend half their lives on strike.
- Pete, London, BEXLEY, 09/05/2011 15:09
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@ Bazza
Have you escaped from your playschool? Do you want me to find your Mummy?
- TIBERIUS, London, 09/05/2011 15:05
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@ Bazza
Not sure what being a boss or a brown noser entails. I assume you are a RMT goon paid by the union to write propaganda. Being a train driver is a semi-skilled job at best. Keep up on the working class hero bit, it's not old at all.
@ Phil
I don't think the drivers each work 364 days a year so your facts need a little work. Nor do they work more unsocial hours than I do. My average working week is about 60 hours - not uncommon among Londoners - drivers do 35 hours a week. A driver on the Tube earns £42k+, compared with many trained nurses on about £20k. My heart bleeds for you.
- MIKE WILLIAMS, London, 09/05/2011 15:03
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alan,, England: By, “electorate are not very intelligent” do you mean the two thirds who could not be bothered to express an opinion?
It might be worth yours and many of the posters on this thread while to read about post war trade union relations. Whatever your views about Boris may be, he probably decided some time ago that meeting with Fatty Crow will achieve nothing. It is for Parliament to sort out industrial relations in the public services sector.
- BJ, East London, 09/05/2011 14:57
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What do you call an underground carraige full of Johnsons
A tube of smarties
- john, london, 09/05/2011 14:56
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Why don't Vince Cable and Ed Davey "reach out" to Bob Crowe? Of course, they might find he interprets their "arms up" as a typical Lib Dem surrender and an invitation to take their wallets. But of course the Lib Dems have spent decades telling other people what to do. Now, even when they are Ministers, they can't lose the habit and actually do something themeselves to solve the problem of a union holding the capital to ransome before the 2 employees have even had the outcome of their cases before the Employment Tribunals.
- Neverwas, London, 09/05/2011 14:49
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Come on Boris, try and talk to someone who prefers to watch kids tv shows than listen to anyone senior in society. It might be like talking to a 5 year old but who cares
I don't think the public could take another 5 years of this. What with your guaranteed mayoral victory next year since there's no candidate worthy of replacing you.
- Steve, In la la land, 09/05/2011 14:47
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Mike Williams London.I assume your a boss or a brown noser,please sir can I have some more,would sir like a cup of tea.
- bazza, London, 09/05/2011 14:46
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Do give in Boris!
- MurdoMcSponge, Lewes UK, 09/05/2011 14:46
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"I do think they are underworked, overpaid. Sack the entire workforce and then re-employ those who want to work hard for a good wage."
MIKE WILLIAMS, London, 09/05/2011 14:16
What basis do you have for saying they are underworked? The underground moves more people per day (numbers still climbing, having broken all records this year) than the entire national rail system put together. Therefore, in strictly productivity terms, their work rate is phenomenal.
So, after sacking all those experienced staff (who work unsocial hours 364 days a year and lose a days annual leave for having Xmas Day off), what good wage would you employ them on? Bearing in mind their productivity. A guideline for you might be the fact that Virgin Drivers get £44K plus pa for a 4 day week. LUL drivers are on £42,424 (note to The Transport Correspondent: See how easy it is to quote a fact!)
- Phil, London, 09/05/2011 14:41
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Don't give an inch to the unions or they'll be straight back with even more outrageous demands. Legislation is the only way forward, or sacking all of them who insist on holding the country to ransom.
- Neil, London, 09/05/2011 14:36
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S M Hearman i appreciate your comments re changing laws etc, but the courts believe these men were dismissed unfairly so they should be compensated or reinstated.
I dislike the RMT intensely, they cause me nothing but grief, but i would prefer them than your way, you cannot just sack people for nothing or change laws when people or organisations you dont like upset you, that is a huge step into losing our democracy, and who would be next ? YOU?
The way forward is through proper consultation and agreement, Bob Crow will be isolated if the suspicion that surrounds LUL management is removed by open, honest management, thats all it takes, nor drraconian laws destroying what so mant fought and died for.
- Brian, Wiltshire, 09/05/2011 14:33
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Surely it is obvious to all that the rail unions should not be in a position to bring the undergroud system to a standstill, when there are other avenues they can pursue to address their grievances! Legistlation to address this absurd situation is long overdue, the only problem being, we have never had a government with the balls to enact it!!!
- Kevin Sullivan, London, 09/05/2011 14:33
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A true politician will make first move, if mayor have heart for londoners he should stand up and solve the problem not passing the buck. Mayor have no idea what to do. He himself voted with less than 50% votes and trying cheap idea of having law. He thinks everybody takes up every word he says, he lives in his own world.
Tube bosses and Mayor has lost the plot and should get ridoff.
Need new fresh ideas than those old brown and peter lot.
- MINDTHEGAP, LONDON ENGLAND, 09/05/2011 14:28
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You could reach out as much as you like but the Unions never reach back. Ken Livingston apparently tried, Boris has tried and yet we are still held to ransom by the likes of Bob Crow who can do whatever they please. Until the LAW is changed and we can fire these cretins and not have to worry about some work shy holding London to continuous strikes it will continue to happen. Boris and his predecessor did not make the unions go on strike, nor did they make the people who were fired behave like complete morons when doing their jobs. So stop blaming other people and put the blame where it belongs, with Bob Crow and his cronies and continuous governments who refuse to make this sort of thing illegal.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 09/05/2011 14:21
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Last weeks votes, Av etc , prove the electorate are not very intelligent so why expect our politicians to be. It appears counting up to 5 is too difficult, you don't have to on the X factor, i think its called.
- alan,, England., 09/05/2011 14:21
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"I will sit down with the unions and negotiate a no strike deal"
Really Boris? Really?
they still strike you and LuL still wont talk, and the traveling public continue to suffer due to the petty rows between TFL ,LUL and the RMT., you are a disgrace, the lot of you !
- Brian, Wiltshire, 09/05/2011 14:18
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@ Markymark
Envy of what exactly. I don't envy the RMT or its workers. I do think they are underworked, overpaid and led by a bunch of 1970's unreconstructed Marxists straight out of Animal Farm - how much does Bob Crowe earn again? I guess some pigs are more equal then others. We should take a leaf out of Murdoch's book - sack the entire workforce and then re-employ those who want to work hard for a good wage, without continual industrial action. Trouble is, Boris is too lazy and timid to do it.
- MIKE WILLIAMS, London, 09/05/2011 14:16
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If anyone believes Boris will sit down and talk with someone who would rather watch kids tv shows than listen to senior authority people at the trade union conference, then there's more chance of the labour party winning an election again
Sadly you've got one baffoon as mayor and then you've got a baffoon who doesn't understand English apart from strike
There's never going to be dialogue whilst these two brainless people are in charge of either parties. The only thing to look forward to 5 more years of this once Boris is re-elected as Mayor in 2012. There's more chance of turkeys voting for christmas than the terrorist supporting Bin Laden loving Livingstone ever getting back into City Hall which is the only positive about the years of this mess between Johnson and the RMT leader
- Steve, In la la land, 09/05/2011 14:12
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Markymark - thanks for the laugh. I am in no way shape or form envious, merely sick to death of people taking out their grievances on the general public. If they have been unfairly dismissed then I wish them well in getting things sorted, but I would rather not be dragged into their dispute via strike action on the transport system. Enough said.
- Geraldine, London (South East), 09/05/2011 14:11
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Seems like the job of mayor is too big for boris . Even his Tory mates don't seem to want him
- Markymark, London, 09/05/2011 12:48
I hardly think that Cable and Davey are Boris' mates - since they are both LibDems. However Cable certainly knows what it's like because he hasn't achieved anything since claiming his Cabinet Minister's pay.
- Methusela 2, Weymouth, 09/05/2011 14:06
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The joke is now over.
It was always on us, the voters, anyway.
- Sceptic, London, 09/05/2011 14:03
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What does Boris have to do with this dispute, what can he do to resolve it?. In truth the Mayor does not have any authority, legal or otherwise, to settle this matter. It is a trade dispute between a semi private company and two employees and their Trade Union. It is no different to the ongoing dispute between BA and their cabin crew. The only thing that Boris can do is encourage both sides to see reason and wait for the matter to be settled in the Courts. However, he could take the Ken Livingstone route and just give in to all Crows demands without a fight, as that is the precedent that Bob Crow and his union members have come to expect from a Livingstone administration. It would seem that many commentators on these pages agree with the principle of appeasement, then complain about the high pay levels (and high tube fares) enjoyed by LU workers.
- pete, Croydon, 09/05/2011 13:58
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Geraldine London the two drivers have been using the same channels as everyone else. The reason rmt are taking the action is Lul don't seem to want to honour the ruling. The fact is the company could sack who they like and pay a little compensation duo you think that is fair. It's lucky for these two that they have a union behind them - but the politics of envy really run deep on this site
- Markymark, London, 09/05/2011 13:54
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Oh!! let's have red Ken back, he was so far up Bob Crowe's whatsit he still has that shade of Brown.I suppose there weren't any problems with transport when ken was the mayor it all ran so perfectly, me thinks not or does everybody have short memories?
- Mark, London, 09/05/2011 13:44
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Lazy incompetent liar.
- snidely, london, 09/05/2011 13:42
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From time immemorial members of the public have screamed out for the head of any union going on strike, don't forget you would like them on your side if you had a claim.
- Davey_Buoy, Chertsey, 09/05/2011 13:27
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If the two who were sacked have a genuine beef then I'm all for trying to sort it out and get their jobs back. However I do think they should use the same channels as everyone else would have to (i.e. sue for unfair dismissal), don't hold the capital to ransom over it. Your unfair dismissal claims are nothing to do with joe public, sort it out in private.
- Geraldine, London (South East), 09/05/2011 13:26
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Why should Boris talk to the union? he has highly paid TFL directors to do that. The Health minister would not enter into negotiations directly with nurses if they went on strike he would leave that to NHS CEOs - same difference. Besides Livingstone talked to Crow till the cows came home and licked his ***e but that did not do any good - the unions were on strike every other day like they are now. No Mr Cable it is up to the government to bring in legislation to curtail these lunatics - who was it that voted down the private member's bill a couple of weeks ago which tried to bring in new rules about strike action??? labour and the Lib dem. You go and lick Crow's backside if you want Mr Cable, it will not do you any good; unless you are prepared to cave in completely on all their unreasonable demands you will just be giving yoruself a bad taste in your mouth and Crow an ever greater impression on his own self importance.
- michou, essex, 09/05/2011 13:25
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Boris is a waste of space. He's good at telling others what to do but not so good at actually doing anything himself.
- Pal, London, 09/05/2011 13:21
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Sack Boris and LUL bosses,that's where the axe should full.
- bazza, London, 09/05/2011 13:19
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It is not his fault we are lumbered with Commissar Crowe. How can Boris prevent the petty strikes, until the law changes.
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 09/05/2011 13:14
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I don't believe it . Someone has told Boris to get his finger out .Can't be done ,sorry folks thats whats keeping his brain in place.
- Hamilton Straker, Ealing London, 09/05/2011 13:04
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If any one should get off their backsides it's Bob Crow who threatens and calls out on strike everyone at the slightest opportunity. However,if Johnson and the TfL managemnet developed better relations with the unions may be they, the unions,would get rid of Crow
- strongbow sullivan, Paris, France, 09/05/2011 13:01
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sack the strikers
- terry sullivan, morden england, 09/05/2011 13:00
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*addendum*
though he was ok on Psychoville!
- Phil, London, 09/05/2011 12:58
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Politicians wake up to fact that adulterous Mayor hasn't a clue shock horror. At least Marina gets the chance to smack the wild haired buffoon in the eye, the rest of us have to endure his craven utterances to the media. Just go Boris!
- Phil, London, 09/05/2011 12:55
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Seems like the job of mayor is too big for boris . Even his Tory mates don't seem to want him. Now boris you will have to live up to your promise of a no strike deal ? For that you need to negotiate not impose.
- Markymark, London, 09/05/2011 12:48
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Londoners have been telling Boris to get off his backside for two years now.Boris seems to think his job only involves stuffing his face with cream cakes,flying around the world first class and acting like an idiot. Boris,your days are numbered.
- dave, london, 09/05/2011 12:45
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bluster and complacency are the two Boris modes.
- chris, london, 09/05/2011 12:41
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Afternoon:
15°c














