Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/354/5853
From The Socialist newspaper, 3 July 2004
Tube strike
Boss Livingstone's Scab Call
KEN LIVINGSTONE, former darling of the left, urged RMT members to cross picket lines on their one-day strike on 29 June. He said that the offer they had received from London Underground Limited (LUL) was "extremely generous" (see Tube Workers Fight To Defend Jobs And Conditions).
Ken Douglas
His call to scab has caused RMT general secretary Bob Crow to resign from the board of Transport for London, which he was brought onto by Livingstone. Bob Crow said: "I was brought up according to Labour movement principles and to believe that the 11th commandment is 'thou shalt not cross a picket line'".
Livingstone claims to be different from Blair's New Labour but when he had the chance he scuttled back into the Labour Party and stoutly defends big business as well as the rest of them.
When there is nothing at stake he will demagogically condemn George Bush as a war criminal, to maintain his so-called radical credentials. But when it comes to defending workers against privatisation and deregulation, like the Tube workers, Livingstone now sounds just like Blair.
Livingstone and his immediate staff are all on over £100,000 a year, mainly for sitting in meetings and attending dinners. It is outrageous, but not unexpected, that he should side with the fat cats.
We need representatives who are prepared to fight for working-class people, starting with a pledge to take a worker's wage.
What they said
"MR LIVINGSTONE has delighted London's businessmen.... The Economist is surprised to find itself saying this, but Ken's the man for the job".
The Economist editorial 5 June, supporting Ken Livingstone for London Mayor
What we said
"YOU DON'T cross picket lines and you don't tell others to cross".
Former striking miner PAUL MARSHALL delivering an angry message to Ken Livingstone at Socialism 2004 (See Socialism 2004: "A Really Brilliant Weekend")
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In The Socialist 3 July 2004:
New Labour Privatising By Choice
Schools Campaign Challenges Labour
Socialism 2004: "A Really Brilliant Weekend"
International socialist news and analysis
Iraq: The Sovereignty Of Puppets
Ireland Greets Bush - But With Protests
Exclusive interview with Brazilian trade unionist
Workplace news and events
Encouraging Result for Martin Powell-Davies
Tube Workers Fight To Defend Jobs And Conditions
Unison conference: Wrong Answers To Wrong Questions!
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