Strike leader drags trade unionism down the tubes...

Luke Akehurst has just published an excellent post attacking the politically motivated London Underground strike which is affecting millions of hard-working London commuters.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union deserve better than their militant leader Bob Crow who showed himself to be a complete ass when he was interviewed on Channel Four News tonight.

Crow refuses to follow the more moderate union leaders who have called off their strike threats - despite on-the-record pledges from management that appear to meet all the stated demands of the RMT. Even worse, he hides behind others, implying that the strike's nothing to do with him: He says the Union's Executive makes the decisions on behalf of his members, not him.

The only reasonable conclusion is that the strike is politically motivated as a curtain-raiser to political conference season which starts with the TUC gathering next week.

The result is three days of chaos on the London Underground which is frustrating for millions of people who simply want to get to work - and home again.

Dinosaurs like Bob Crow seriously damage the cause of trade unionism for millions of workers in this country.

Underground workers should send Crow a message by getting the Tube running again without delay.

UPDATE: Tomorrow's FT reports on the chaos and questions why the RMT pressed on with its strike when the leaders of UNITE and the TSSA called off their action.

UPDATE 2: The RMT called off today's action last last night - but not in time to prevent further chaos for millions of people who just want to do their jobs.