Is Bob Crow completely bonkers?
Interesting piece here in This is London about the actions of Bob Crow in taking tube drivers out on strike this week.
He claims this recent industrial action is about safety on the tube. Rather than rallying support behind the already well paid underground staff however he seems to be hell bent on annoying as many people as possible.
Is his management style really suited to a modern world or is he an outdated dinosaur of a past age?
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I don't know about bonkers, but his management style is completely out of touch with modern society. His actions this week have been terrible, yet sadly predictable for the man.
I'm not a fan of strikes at all, but read recently about 'revenue strikes'.
A revenue strike means everyone comes into work, services run as usual, but no money is collected. It's used in parts of Europe to great effect and does not needlessly inconvenience ordinary people.
Seems to be a dig at management (surely the intended target?) without customers suffering like they have done this week.
Might be worth getting in touch by the way
http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeId=89735
And now he's calling for a campaign of 'civil disobedience' if the planned cuts go ahead. The man is absolutely staggering.
I can't comment on his mental health but I do think that the tube workers need a healthy dose of reality.
Most businesses are under threat of redundancy and are cost cutting at the moment. There's no such thing as a job for life anymore and like most other organisations the tube workers need to understand that if their business is not being run efficiently the management are within their rights to look to make changes so that it does.
I'm a commuter and I don't want to continue to have the price of my season ticket increased to pay for these inefficiencies. You can masquerade the reason for the strike as compromising safety if you like but I'm not sure many people really believe that.
I think his childish display yesterday in stomping out of the TUC Conference rather than listen to Mervyn King, then sitting watching children's TV, sums it up perfectly.
It's reminiscent of Arthur Scargill back in the 70s and 80s ranting about bringing down the government.
It is incredibly childish. To be honest if he was my union manager I'd be absolutely ashamed of him and his behaviour, as whether they like it or not, his behaviour reflects on the members of his organisation.
Could it not just possibly be that Crow is genuinely concerned at the loss of jobs on the underground network, with the first intended cuts being just the start?
Maybe he is. No one likes the thought of anyone losing their employment. Let's face it we all need a job to may our bills.
I think that the main objection is his bullish behaviour, the perception that he will never compromise and his childish antics yesterday (good point Nigel). Surely this type of leadership is well out of place in todays society?
Interesting tipping point approaching here. Union leaders are rightly concerned at the impact of cuts on their members (that is, after all, partly why they exist). Yet they are quite powerless in this struggle. The majority of our responses here illustrate why. We all appear to think the cuts are necessary, or at least inevitable. Who will raise a finger to help the 250,000 people who will lose their jobs in the next few months? Most of us will just be glad not to be among the statistics (though I work in the public sector, so I'm not holding my breath). While I hate the inconvenience as much as anyone and have little sympathy when faced with the disruptions.... The first of many, I fear. To use Maslow's famous phrase: "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail".
If not strikes, then what?
Could it not just possibly be that Crow is genuinely concerned at the loss of jobs on the underground network, with the first intended cuts being just the start?
I can appreciate that, I mean that's kinda what unions are there for, but the way he's going about showing that concern is like he's in some kind of pantomime. It's crazy. That he describes himself as a communist does little to support his position as someone rational that should be listened to.
Interesting that Boris wants new rules to govern how unions can call strike action. I wonder if we will see another battle between the Tories and the Unions ala the 80's.
I'm gonna have to rant again I'm afraid. In the past 24 hours we've had news that postmen are planning to strike around Christmas to mess up Christmas deliveries, and now firemen are planning to strike around bonfire night.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11625192
Does my head in I must say.
The fire fighter strike is horrid. What on earth are they thinking? It sends the message that they couldn't care less about peoples safety. Shame on them!
If memory serves me, the last time the firemen went on strike the most alarming thing was that they weren't really missed.
At least sanity has been restored and the fire fighters have canceled their planned strike on bonfire night.
Picked up on the wires today that this guy is planning a strike on the day of Prince William's wedding later this year. No scruples at all.
Picked up on the wires today that this guy is planning a strike on the day of Prince William's wedding later this year. No scruples at all.
Shocking isn't it? Nice to see Miliband standing up to him.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12201252
Surely it's less problematic for more of the public if the Tube goes on strike on a Bank Holiday rather than a working day
Dunno about over there, but here whenever its a public holiday the transport system is gridlocked. Seems to suggest lots of people like going places on a public holiday. A strike is a pain in the ass whenever its done, there really is little honey coating involved.
I'm afraid many union chiefs appear to be out of touch with reality and I think that, this time, they really might have misjudged public reaction. I, for one, will have no sympathy - everyone is suffering (with the possible exception of the stinking rich - do they ever?) and to heap more misery on the general public at such a time will, I fear, lead to a backlash against the unions and actually weaken them further.
And another pay deal has been rejected. LU said the deal would see Tube and other staff get a 4% pay rise in the first year followed by inflation plus 0.25% in subsequent years.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23941703-rail-unions-set-to-reject-london-underground-pay-offer.do
What an idiot.
And another pay deal has been rejected. LU said the deal would see Tube and other staff get a 4% pay rise in the first year followed by inflation plus 0.25% in subsequent years.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23941703-rail-unions-set-to-reject-london-underground-pay-offer.do
What an idiot.
Absolutely incredible. Does he not realise we're in a recession?
And now yet more strikes. Apparently you can't sack anyone now.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23946380-two-weeks-of-tube-strikes-londoners-to-be-hit-by-savage-union-walkouts.do
The strikes by hundreds of drivers will begin Monday 16 May and affect every day of that week, ending at 9pm on Friday 20 May.
A second week of walkouts has been ordered to begin on Monday, 13 June, again affecting every day of that week ending at 9pm on Friday 17 June.
It's insane, it really is. There are procedures for dealing with unfair dismissal. Going on strike should not be one of them.
He might be a nuisance but he sure seems to be effective for tube workers.
"A groundbreaking pay deal has been agreed for thousands of workers.
It includes a 10% rise over two years, a £500 lump sum for those working on projects linked to next year's Olympics and an agreement which unions said means that no-one can be dismissed during the Games."
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23948421-bob-crows-union-secures-pay-rise-and-lump-sum-for-rail-workers.do
"a 10% rise over two years, a £500 lump sum for those working on projects linked to next year's Olympics and an agreement which unions said means that no-one can be dismissed during the Games."
Staggering. Absolutely staggering.
Well they got what they wanted so you can't argue that his style doesn't get results.
I had a quick read of the story but there's no mention of whether they can strike when the Olympics are on or not. Are commuters at risk of being held to ransom again next summer?
And it looks like they've done it again, this time for the tube workers. They'll get £500 extra for working over the Olympics.
Tube bosses are planning to offer extra payments of up to £500 to staff for working during the Olympics in a bid to prevent any strike action.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23950831-pound-500-for-tube-drivers-to-work-during-the-olympics.do
Now Tube strikes might disrupt Wimbledon too. Are these people ever at work rather than threatening strike action?
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23959235-brit-tennis-star...
I read in the paper today that it is because one of their colleagues was sacked.
Has any union member ever actually been sacked without causing a strike or does anything go as they know they have the city to ransom?
And in other news, train fares set to see double digit price rises.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23969669-commuter-rail-fares-to-rise-by-up-to-13-percent-with-more-to-come.do
Rail prices are due to rise by an average of 8% this year. Nice for rail workers I suspect. Not so nice for the poor sods that have to stump up for all the wonderful 'improvements' to service we can expect.
Tube drivers will get a cash bonus of up to £1,200 for working during the Olympic Games, it has been revealed.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23986333-olympics-payment-for-tube-drivers.do
Finally plans for driverless trains.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8845248/London-Underground-planning-to-scrap-1500-jobs.html
It works well on the DLR so why not on the tubes as well? It's madness that a) drivers are paid so much for doing what is a pretty simple job, and b) people are working in some pretty nasty conditions when technology exists to do it for them.
I don't know about bonkers, but his management style is completely out of touch with modern society. His actions this week have been terrible, yet sadly predictable for the man.
I am afraid that the Unions as a whole are out of touch with todays society. I cant see what useful purpose they serve anymore?
Driverless trains have been launched on the busiest Parisian line. The line was retrofitted to allow the technology to operate.
http://www.economist.com/node/21540284
Maybe this will give TFL the courage to do likewise?
I've been attempting to travel on driverless trains for years... "the 7.23 from Nottingham is cancelled due to staff shortages"... I experienced the ultimate on the Tube a few weeks ago.... get this: "passengers are advised that this train will not be continuing to xxxx. Passengers are advised that the best course of action is to disembark at zzzz and continue their journey at street level" - street level? Love it. Bl$$dy well get out and walk... we've already had your money to pay for Bob Crow's limo so tough luck.