Crow resigns from Transport for London board
The leader of the RMT union has announced that he is resigning his position on the board of Transport for London (TfL).
His decision comes after a public spat with London Mayor Ken Livingstone over next week’s scheduled tube strike.
Speaking on Thursday Mr Livingstone said that he had little sympathy with the strike, and would cross picket lines.
Mr Livingstone – widely regarded as sympathetic to the union – told the BBC: “I have to say were I a member of the RMT, for the first time in my life I would cross a picket line next Tuesday.”
“I doubt if there is anywhere in the public sector and most probably not in the private sector a pay and conditions offer as generous as this currently under discussion.”
In response to the comments, Mr Crow said: “I was brought up according to labour-movement principles and to believe that the eleventh commandment is ‘Thou shalt not cross a picket line’.
“To say I was shocked, saddened and disappointed to hear Mr Livingstone yesterday call on RMT members to cross their own union’s picket lines would be a massive understatement.
“The Mayor should know that the way to settle disputes is not to attempt to break strikes but to negotiate, and that is what he should be getting his management to do.”
“In all conscience I can no longer sit on the TfL board, and today I have let it be known that I am not available for re-appointment to it.”
His departure is unlikely to be widely lamented. Both Steve Norris and Simon Hughes, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat candidates for London Mayor, said they would remove Bob Crow from the board if elected during their campaigns.
Mr Hughes said: “Transport for London will be better without him. Ken Livingstone must now show himself to be big enough, and independent enough, to appoint people not because they are cronies, friends or paymasters, but because they will help sort out the desperate needs of our capital city.”
Though the RMT last night called off the threatened rail strike, the 24 hour stoppage on the Tube is still scheduled to go ahead.
