Who will stand up to Bob? - Caroline Pidgeon AM

5.37.00pm GMT Wed 13th Aug 2008

Commenting on the news that the RMT has announced a strike of its Tube Lines workers Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat deputy Chair of the London Assembly's Transport Committee, says: "This is terrible news for Londoners and will achieve nothing. There were only around 1,000 Tube Lines workers balloted so around 750 people are holding London to ransom.

"Or is it in fact just one man who has London over a barrel? The question has to be asked: who will curb the Bob Crow and the RMT?"

The RMT has announced its Tube Lines workers will down tools between noon on Wednesday August 20th and noon on Saturday August 23rd. The second 72-hour strike will begin at noon on Wednesday September 3rd and end at noon on Saturday September 6th. They have voted on strike action having rejected a pay offer of 4.85%.

Caroline says: "We have seen these threats before and fortunately often the strikes are cancelled but that doesn't stop Bob Crow from holding London to ransom again and again.

"Mayor Johnson has been angling for no-strike deal with the unions with little success so far. What he really needs to do is to stop following the example Ken Livingstone set in how to deal with the unions, and the RMT in particular, and stand firm with TfL and Tube Lines and confront them head on."