Boris Johnson trying to negotiate no-strike deal with tube

Submitted by catch on 19 August, 2008 - 00:23.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e84372be-6d42-11dd-857b-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1

Quote:
Terry Morgan, Tube Lines’ chief executive, wrote in the London Evening Standard that the latest dispute over pay and conditions reflected the determination of the RMT transport union “to return all Tube work to the public sector by destroying Tube Lines”.

The stoppages had nothing to do with pay and conditions but were a political attack on his company and on Boris Johnson, the Conservative mayor of London, who is seeking a no-strike deal with Underground unions, Mr Morgan said.

19 August, 2008 - 21:56

Yeah you can really see Bob Crowe rushing to sign a 'no strike' deal with Boris can't you?? If the Tories get back into Westminster they would probably make a move against the RMT on the Underground but I can't see them doing it before, particular as Johnson isn't looking too good at the moment having today lost his third Deputy Mayor.

20 August, 2008 - 22:17

I got the impression that this move he made immediately on entering office to ban booze on public transport was a shot over the bows of the tube workers, a deliberate provocation.

20 August, 2008 - 23:08

My understanding is that most underground workers aren't bothered either way about the drinking ban, as long as its clear they're not there to enforce it.

20 August, 2008 - 23:08

My understanding is that most underground workers aren't bothered either way about the drinking ban, as long as its clear they're not there to enforce it.

21 August, 2008 - 08:19

Who is supposed to enforce it? I thought the idea was that they were.

21 August, 2008 - 09:54

Booze wasn't banned on public transport before? That is mad.

21 August, 2008 - 11:50

Nonetheless, it caused a fuss with the RMT bureaucracy being very vocal about lack of 'consultation' etc, which seemed a very clear message to be sending to the union.