To support the RMT?

The RMT are striking yet again. Not because of sackings, or poor pay and conditions, but because there may be job cuts in the future. Despite assurance from the mayor, they still feel its necessary to bring the capital to a stand still.

There are no job cuts at the moment. The RMT, however, continue to call for strikes at every opportunity they get. Already paid a considerable amount for fewer hours and more holiday than many of the capitals workers it is not hard to see why londoners are not sympathetic to the most recent strike.

The trouble with this is that the workers may have to face repercussions later on. The rmt have gone on strike so often that the public is losing sympathy and the ordinary Londoner is getting use to finding another route home. Many in my office (unionists too) are going on about "the RMT striking again" and "what wrong this time"

So why does Bob crow continue? Power? Just to antagonise? or because he is so
dedicated to his workers.

Its hard to see the latter given the preferential treatment of wages, but i suspect a little of all of them. And knowing these old union types they do care and do believe that they are working for the best deal for the worker. Most of the time. However, they do try to get what they can and often ignore the bigger picture.

There will be a backlash against the tube workers one day. Whether its a conservative government or mayor that will happen over the next 5-6 years. And it will be hard for Labour and the public to defend them.

As with most strike action with lions led by donkeys, the workers are ultimately the ones that suffer.

Its the long route home again tonight!!

N.B. My colleague told me that in brazil they just open the barriers and let people travel for free, to keep the public on-side. Maybe one to think about for the future.

UPDATE: I have been corrected on some massive faults on my last post and rightfully so. Thanks for that and apologies for it.

It was lazy blogging on my behalf, i meant workers not drivers. The point I was trying to make is that all the public hear is that there is a strike on the tube and don't seperate them out for the reasons why. An RMT/Bob Crow led strike (as well as calls for strikes and recently calls for a EU referendum etc etc), i think, is becomming devalued as a currency and i think more effort needs to be made to keep the public on side for the sake of the longer term.