Today, when many capital city retailers were hoping to benefit from additional footfall and business, the great city of London is held to ransom by an over-privileged and exceedingly small group of union members. Families and friends wanting to visit each other are unable to do so. Why?
The around 3,400 London Tube drivers include 2,200 who are members of the Labour Party supporting union called ASLEF. This union was obliged, by legislation passed under Conservative governments to ballot its members regarding industrial action.
Of these 2,200 cosseted individuals (annual salary fast heading towards £52-55,000 a year or twice national average salary) less than 1,000 members could be bothered to vote (42% to be exact) and these die-hards then voted overwhelmingly 92% in favour of strike action.
Over what are they striking? This is a long running dispute because the union demand no compulsion about working on December 26 - only volunteers - and they demand extra pay (quadruple) for those that do volunteer to work - that is instead of the time off in lieu and extra pay that they already receive.
Londoners, don't expect to hear condemnation of this strike from the Labour party. Now that so very much of its funding comes from the Unions, it cannot afford to upset its paymasters and remember that it was Union votes which 'won it' for Miliband.
Also Londoners should not expect any condemnation from Glenda Jackson, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn or Jeremy Corbyn Labour MP for Islington North both, per the ASLEF website receive support from the union. Jeremy, according to his website is far too busy asking questions about Libya and Columbia and Iran to be interested in anything so mundane as that which would actually directly affect his constituents!
I think that it is time for the Government, led by the Conservatives to step in and spend a few moments away from the international economic crisis (which after all, doesn't seem to be affecting the Tube drivers economy) and swiftly bring in legislation to the effect that for any strike action to be legal, a majority of all members eligible to vote, must be passed. So, greater than 50% of the membership not just those who bother to vote. Consider the low turnout that was seen for the public sector strikes that occurred at the end of November 2011 - poorly supported, all around!
Cameron and Co. - What do you think you might risk by such legislation? To paraphrase Nike - Just Do It!
The around 3,400 London Tube drivers include 2,200 who are members of the Labour Party supporting union called ASLEF. This union was obliged, by legislation passed under Conservative governments to ballot its members regarding industrial action.
Of these 2,200 cosseted individuals (annual salary fast heading towards £52-55,000 a year or twice national average salary) less than 1,000 members could be bothered to vote (42% to be exact) and these die-hards then voted overwhelmingly 92% in favour of strike action.
Over what are they striking? This is a long running dispute because the union demand no compulsion about working on December 26 - only volunteers - and they demand extra pay (quadruple) for those that do volunteer to work - that is instead of the time off in lieu and extra pay that they already receive.
Londoners, don't expect to hear condemnation of this strike from the Labour party. Now that so very much of its funding comes from the Unions, it cannot afford to upset its paymasters and remember that it was Union votes which 'won it' for Miliband.
Also Londoners should not expect any condemnation from Glenda Jackson, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn or Jeremy Corbyn Labour MP for Islington North both, per the ASLEF website receive support from the union. Jeremy, according to his website is far too busy asking questions about Libya and Columbia and Iran to be interested in anything so mundane as that which would actually directly affect his constituents!
I think that it is time for the Government, led by the Conservatives to step in and spend a few moments away from the international economic crisis (which after all, doesn't seem to be affecting the Tube drivers economy) and swiftly bring in legislation to the effect that for any strike action to be legal, a majority of all members eligible to vote, must be passed. So, greater than 50% of the membership not just those who bother to vote. Consider the low turnout that was seen for the public sector strikes that occurred at the end of November 2011 - poorly supported, all around!
Cameron and Co. - What do you think you might risk by such legislation? To paraphrase Nike - Just Do It!
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