Tube chiefs and union bosses in joint push for peace

Bob Crow: Entering talks with tube bosses to try to stop future strikes
12 April 2012

Tube and union bosses are to meet for new talks in an effort to halt future strikes.

London Underground managing director Mike Brown and RMT chief Bob Crow will take charge of an unprecedented joint review of industrial disputes affecting the network.

Tube bosses are desperate for a thaw in relations with the powerful union and want to ease the current stand-off. LU is keen to dispel the fear that it has a policy of "targeting" union activists, while emphasising it needs to press on with the upgrade of the network and changes to working conditions.

Last night the RMT confirmed 10 days of strikes, due to start on Monday, have been called off, as revealed earlier by the Evening Standard.

There will now be much closer contact between the two sides to try to settle disputes before they develop into strike ballots. A senior Transport for London source said: "We want to dispel the idea we have a hidden agenda in targeting union activists. That's just not true.

"There has to be closer contact. It's the only way forward. We cannot go on having strike ballots seemingly every five minutes. There has to be another way and the review is a vitally important first step." The aborted strikes were called in protest over the sacking of two RMT train drivers. LU has now offered to re-employ the Bakerloo line's Eamonn Lynch, who lost his job after a safety breach while driving an empty train. An employment tribunal found he had been unfairly dismissed. He is being switched to a non-driving role.

There will now be talks over Arwyn Thomas of the Northern line, sacked for alleged "abusive and intimidating" behaviour to colleagues. Crucially, these will take place before he appears before his employment tribunal on May 25. Mr Crow has insisted both sackings were because the drivers were union activists, saying: "All that we are seeking to do is get our unfairly dismissed members back to work."

There are also moves to get the Mayor to meet Mr Crow when the need arises. Mr Johnson has refused to meet union chiefs, saying he has no intention of reintroducing Harold Wilson-style "beer and sandwiches" at City Hall.

That will remain, with the Mayor leaving day-to-day talks to people such as Mr Brown. But in recent days the Mayor's aides have spoken in much warmer terms about Mr Crow. Relations thawed after the pair met on Radio 4's Any Questions this year and they were even pictured embracing.

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