Well done the Northern line drivers

Published: 16 September, 2010

• AS a fan of driverless trains I am probably not the most popular politician with the Northern line drivers; however, I like to be even-handed and salute them for keeping the service running during last Monday’s strike.

I needed to travel to Camden Town. 

I could easily have walked or gone by bicycle but I decided to make a defiant gesture of travelling by Tube even though this meant going out of my way to find a station that was open.

On the way I congratulated and shook the hand of the staff that were working. I then read in detail the leaflet given out by the RMT union. 

There were two flaws in this strike. 

First Bob Crow stated that with the reduced staffing stations would become a “muggers’ paradise”. I am sorry but there are carefully laid down safety rules – if there are not enough staff the station closes and the trains pass through without stopping.

Secondly he refers to staff cuts as if people will be made redundant. No one will lose their jobs.

People that leave will simply not be replaced.

What then was his real reason for calling the strike? I think is was self-preservation. 

The loss of 800 RMT members would be an embarrassment for his union.

Every time the RMT go on strike they lose pay and achieve nothing. 
Cllr Jonny Bucknell 
Conservative, Belsize ward