But the RMT's dispute with London Underground has nothing to do with pensions. In fact, LU has increased employers' contributions six-fold to ensure our final salary scheme remains open to all staff. The deal matches, at least, that accepted by RMT on Network Rail. We have offered a pay rise of 3.5% this year, an above inflation rise next, and a 35-hour working week for all staff by 2006.
There is no evidence LU employees have been treated in anything but a fair manner in our negotiations. This is, no doubt, why the majority worked on the day of the strike. The RMT continues to insist on a four-day working week, which they know is unaffordable and would lead to much higher tube fares. The only way to resolve this dispute is for the RMT to return to negotiations to discuss the very good deal on offer.
Tim O'Toole
Managing director, London Underground
It is Digby Jones (Letters, July 1), with his predictable hostility to our call for employee rights on a par with those in the rest of Europe, who is rooted in a bygone era. The idea that the UK's "flexible" workforce is a progressive approach to employment relations and boosts our global competitiveness owes everything to Thatcherite dogma and nothing to modern economic requirements.
Countries such as France and Germany have more successful industrial sectors, better skill bases and more inward investment because they realise the value of employment protection. Stronger employment laws also help stem the flood of jobs abroad.
The UK's flexible, "hire and fire" workforce has only resulted in our having the most expendable employees in the industrialised world. That's not good for workers, the wider economy or even sensible businesses. Digby should pay less attention to failed 1980s ideology.
Derek Simpson
General secretary, Amicus
Tony Woodley
General secretary, TGWU
Digby Jones emerges from his world of fat-cat salaries, bonuses and pensions to criticise union leaders fighting to protect workers interests in exactly the same way in which he protects the interests of big business. In St Helens many workers have been robbed of their pensions, and their dignity, after a lifetime of labour.
What Jones dreams of is the unregulated, unfettered markets of India and China, where pensions and welfare benefits are almost nonexistent. Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson need have no fear about a yes vote for Europe. Such is the hostility that Blair has created among his own former supporters, whatever he advocates will be vigorously opposed by disillusioned Labour voters.
Sid Pearce
TGWU, St Helens
Peter Davis, who serves on a CBI taskforce on excessive boardroom pay, takes a massive bonus while presiding over a Sainsbury's in decline (Sainsbury's chief ousted, July 1). Is it any surprise? I worked for many years in big businesses and now run a small business. Small businessmen blame the governement for the burden of regulation and taxation. But it is big businesses that devises clever schemes to avoid tax and so leave small businesses having to pay more. It's time large businesses and overpaid executives were brought into line. Sainsbury's has made a small start.
Martin Phillips
Guildford, Surrey
