Tube strikes: Keir Starmer’s MPs fail to condemn RMT union industrial action crippling London

Labour was in chaos over London Underground strikes yesterday after failing to condemn a second crippling walkout.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was booed while attending a glitzy music awards ceremony, with one punk group publicly savaging him for not dealing with the crisis.

Critics questioned why the mayor was attending the event instead of holding talks to try to halt the industrial action. Meanwhile, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has chosen to remain silent on the issue.

And analysis of Labour MP Twitter accounts found at least 15 used their profiles to back the strikes, with several proudly posting pictures of themselves on picket lines.

Yesterday marked another day of commuter despair as the militant RMT union staged a second 24-hour walkout of Underground staff, bringing the capital to a near-total standstill again.

Key workers and hospital patients were caught up in the mayhem as passengers tried to board packed buses.

The strikes were held on Tuesday and yesterday, with the effects of the walkouts bleeding into Wednesday and today, stretching the chaos out over four days in all.

Underground staff are protesting over fears of staff cuts and changes to work conditions and pension schemes as Transport for London (TfL) looks to recover from the devastating impact the pandemic had on its finances.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan (left) was booed while attending a glitzy music awards ceremony, with one punk group publicly savaging him for not dealing with the crisis. Critics questioned why the mayor was attending the event instead of holding talks to try to halt the industrial action. Meanwhile, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has chosen to remain silent on the issue

The strikes were held on Tuesday and yesterday, with the effects of the walkouts bleeding into Wednesday and today, stretching the chaos out over four days in all

The strikes were held on Tuesday and yesterday, with the effects of the walkouts bleeding into Wednesday and today, stretching the chaos out over four days in all

Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has chosen to remain silent on the issue. And analysis of Labour MP Twitter accounts found at least 15 used their profiles to back the strikes, with several proudly posting pictures of themselves on picket lines

Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has chosen to remain silent on the issue. And analysis of Labour MP Twitter accounts found at least 15 used their profiles to back the strikes, with several proudly posting pictures of themselves on picket lines

Ministers and MPs led an angry backlash, pointing out that those on lower incomes would be hit the hardest by the strikes. And Mr Khan was booed on stage as he presented a gong at the NME Awards at the O2 Academy Brixton in south London on Wednesday night.

He was seen rubbing shoulders with celebrities such as YouTuber Amelia Dimoldenberg at the do.

But he was also rounded on by those frustrated with the strikes.

Punk-grime duo Bob Vylan, who were there to present the award for Best Festival in the UK, said: ‘Sadiq you need to sort these trains out. Do you understand?

Grumbling drivers on £60,000 … and in line for a £4,700 rise

By Daily Mail Reporter

About 3,200 London Underground drivers get annual salaries of just over £58,000.

A further 375 ‘instructor operators’ who have extra training duties get £60,516.

Yet they are set for an increase of more than £4,700 in the coming months as they were promised rises in line with the RPI rate of inflation – currently 7.8 per cent – plus 0.2 per cent following a pay deal.

By comparison, the average London bus driver earns £27,000 to £31,000 a year.

Underground operators usually work 36-hour weeks and have 43 days of annual leave including bank holidays. Shifts can start as early as 4.45am or finish at 1.30am.

Other perks include a free annual Tube pass, including for a spouse. Their pensions are considered ‘generous’ compared to Network Rail’s and other civil service schemes.

Transport for London (TfL) contributes £6 for every £1 staff pay in. It is a ‘final salary’ pension scheme – unlike those used for Scotland Yard officers and London firefighters.

The Government has ordered TfL to review the scheme as part of the conditions of bailing out the capital’s transport network during the pandemic.

This was the main reason for this week’s strikes as hard-Left union the RMT fears the terms will be made less generous. A review last year found reforming the pension scheme could save £100million a year by 2025.

 

‘You have to keep this city moving bro because people need to get to work, you understand? Come on, we’ve got to do better.’

Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the Commons transport committee, said: ‘It’s wholly unacceptable for people’s daily lives, their income, their livelihoods to be disrupted in this horrendous way. 

‘It’s literally taking food off people’s tables. People who were stuck in the rain on Tuesday and who couldn’t get about today will be raising many an eyebrow as they see the Labour mayor was swanning around at a glitzy event with celebrities rather than hammering it out with the RMT to end this nonsense.’

Speaking in the Commons, fellow Conservative Bob Blackman said: ‘The trade unions, for the second day this week, have brought London literally to a halt. At this time of course, there is one person that’s completely silent about that – the do-nothing Mayor of London.’ 

Commons Leader Mark Spencer branded Mr Khan’s record ‘absolutely appalling’. Conservatives also condemned figures showing the RMT has given Labour and its MPs hundreds of thousands of pounds in recent years, sparking accusations that union barons had ‘bought the party’s silence.’

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘For the second time this week, TfL Tube strikes have brought London to a standstill. Given the Government has provided almost £5billion to protect services and TfL jobs throughout the pandemic, this is no way to repay hard-pressed taxpayers who are simply trying to get to work and home.’

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘Through multiple donations the RMT has bought the Labour Party’s silence on an issue that’s crippling the capital and damaging our economy at a crucial time.’

A spokesman for Mr Khan defended his attendance at the awards, saying the mayor ‘will always support the capital’s creative industries as it continues to recover from the pandemic.’ A Labour spokesman said: ‘Transport for London’s finances have been decimated during the pandemic. Sadiq Khan has been working hard to get it back on track, while Conservative ministers continue to play politics with TfL’s finances.’

RMT chief Mick Lynch said: ‘Our members across London Underground are making it crystal clear again this morning that they are not going to be used as pawns in a political fight between the mayor and the Government which threatens their futures and their livelihoods.’