I'll admit, my comment was provocative. But then so are strikes I guess? Comments like mine will be heard quite regularly among the public, as you know. I think the key point I made is responsibility. Even Bob Crow admits he uses the system to 'jack up the prices'.
But with all this subsidy, and high ticket costs, not to mention NR sending staff by coach, I do wonder where its going to end like many others. And no its not all the drivers, or NR, or government. Its a combination of those things.
For us passengers, its rather worrying what the network might look like in 20 years.
The RMT (and I know ASLEF is involved here) has had 100 disputes so far and is considered by far the most militant union. So if people stereotype drivers and other staff, they probably have good reason to.
Ralph Darlington, professor of employment relations at Salford University:
"I think we could characterise the RMT as one of the most militant and left-wing unions in Britain. The politicisation has come about in the face of the challenges which they feel they have faced."
Ken Livingstone 'RMT executive behaved more like a "protection racket than a proper industrial union", in a BBC interview Red ken said 'They make a mockery of the trade union movement'
Tim O'Toole former boss of LUL
'"At times, I did feel like I was inserted into an episode of Life on Mars. They would want to discuss socialism and worker solidarity. I just thought, hang on, we have a simple problem to deal with here," says the former managing director of London Underground.
Some minor agreement would be made into the big issue of the day, he says. "You could see Scargill coming down the tunnel - it was ridiculous." '
The RMT is so left will its even been shunned by the TUC and New Labour!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8294957.stm