Sadiq Khan has capitulated to the commerce unions – and Londoners are paying the worth.
This is but more determined stuff from Sadiq Khan. After eight lengthy years of being our Mayor, Sadiq continues to be up to the usual methods.
Over the weekend, we have been handled to his newest stunt: coughing up £30 million of our hard-earned money to placate his buddies in the RMT, who’ve given Labour almost £200,000 since 2017 to try to keep away from any awkward Tube strikes earlier than he’s up for re-election.
Clearly the embarrassment of dealing with 140 strikes below his watch, far more than his two predecessors mixed, was an excessive amount of for him to deal with.
Especially when he promised no strikes on his watch, when he was campaigning again in 2016.
Over the weekend, he stepped in to throw taxpayers’ cash at the downside and take a look at to make it go away.
Even TfL negotiators have been caught without warning when the backdown was introduced late on Sunday, mere hours earlier than the strike was scheduled to begin. This is not what management appears to be like like.
It’s nothing however a spineless capitulation to union calls for, with Londoners footing the invoice.
£30 million – that is a complete month’s takings from his unfair and punitive ULEZ growth tax, a burden that hits the poorest Londoners the hardest.
And what can we get for this monumental worth? A suspension of business motion, not an all-out cancellation.
Be in little question that the RMT will be again on strike after the election, if not earlier.
They know Sadiq Khan is a pushover – his re-election marketing campaign is funded by commerce unions, in any case.
They will demand more and more, inflicting chaos on our transport community to pressure his hand. We could nicely have exchanged strike immediately for worse strikes tomorrow.
Other unions are already making the most of the state of affairs.
Aslef, who gave almost £500,000 to the Labour Party since 2017, know the Mayor is a straightforward goal and has demanded a 12 per cent pay rise. And that is simply the tip of the iceberg, thanks to Sadiq Khan’s continued weak spot.
His give up is not about equity or supporting staff.
It’s a few Mayor too ensnared in his social gathering’s union internet to make unbiased choices. If Sadiq Khan stays Mayor for an additional 4 years, anticipate more strikes, more disruption, and more taxpayer cash squandered to maintain the unions quiet.
Imagine the good that £30 million might have completed if it hadn’t been taken from the Ulez taxpayers who want it.
Instead, Khan’s reckless spending has prioritised union appeasement over individuals’s livelihoods.
His strategy to union negotiations is symptomatic of a bigger downside.
Time and once more, Sadiq Khan has at all times put his personal pursuits first. Londoners deserve a Mayor who treats their cash with respect, not as a slush fund to purchase short-term peace to assist his re-election prospects.
We want a frontrunner who could be agency with unions, who isn’t going to be bulldozed into pricey concessions.
London is crying out for a Mayor who can convey stability and equity again to the negotiating desk.
Someone who understands that accountable governance means spending taxpayer cash properly and standing up for the pursuits of all Londoners, not simply the union barons. In May, we will make it occur. I promise to restore sanity to TfL’s funds.
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The days of kowtowing to union calls for at the expense of the public curiosity will be over.
I will convey again a agency however truthful strategy to union negotiations, respecting staff’ rights however not permitting the metropolis to be held to ransom.
Sadiq Khan’s £30 million giveaway is a wake-up name.
It’s time for management that is accountable to the individuals, not somebody in the pocket of the commerce unions.
Elect me, and I’ll be that Mayor – somebody who stands up for London, getting the finest deal for everybody.
Susan Hall is the Conservative mayoral candidate for London.
Responding to the article, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated: “The absolute worst outcome for Londoners and businesses would have been a week of strike action this week causing huge disruption in the capital. The hospitality industry alone warned of a £50m loss of income if strikes had lasted throughout the week. The Mayor has always said that negotiation and talking with workers is the best way to settle disputes, while the Government’s approach has seen years of strikes across national rail, the NHS and education.”
“Negotiations have been ongoing related to the annual London Underground pay review for 2023-24, a time of exceptionally high inflation. As agreement could not be reached within the resources available to TfL, the Mayor has taken the decision to allocate additional funding to TfL as part of the City Hall budget process.”