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Editorial Its Boxing Day and our capitals streets are thronging with people trying to get a bargain at the sales, but the biggest worry is trying to get home, given the decision by tube unions to go on strike.
Aslef the underground drivers union has paralysed London on day that is normally a time for the family to venture down to central London in a strike over extra pay for members working on the public holiday. London Underground tried to stop the strike in a last minute legal challenge to prevent the strike but a high court judge ruled last week that the strike was lawful and could go ahead. As a result of the action, Arsenal postponed their Boxing Day Premier League fixture with Wolves by 24 hours.
What public sector workers need to understand increasingly is that the luxury they used to enjoy, ie overtime, treble pay on bank holidays is something that should be left in the past. The private sector has seen no pay rises, longer hours and more pressure on workers.
With the Olympics months away are we going to see this type of action happen in the summer? The "quality time" off quoted by Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, of course is necessary but why paralyse the entire tube network on Boxing Day.
2012 needs some sensible thinking by both Transport for London and the trade unions to avoid London becoming a laughing stock across the globe, as our every movements will be broadcast across the global if we have industrial strife either in the build up to the Olympics or during the Games.
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