Tube strikes could be banned and replaced with binding arbitration after Prime Minister David Cameron signalled his support for a reform of strike laws.
In an interview with the BBC’s, Mr Cameron has promised to consider the reforms which were put forward by Conservative members of the London Assembly.
According to statistics from the London Chamber of Commerce, a single day’s tube strike costs London’s economy £48 million.
An opinion poll commissioned by City Hall Tories suggests 57% of Londoners think there are too many tube strikes and 59% would support a ban provided they were replaced with a legal process which represents workers in setting pay and conditions.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Cameron said: “I think it would be much better if we could get into a situation where there was always mediation when these disputes came up, rather than the strikes we’ve seen in recent years.
“Seeing fewer strikes on the public services, that is something I would support…Let’s go through that process and set it out in our manifesto.”
The full interview will be shown on the BBC Sunday Politics show this weekend.
The Prime Minister’s comments have been welcomed by Richard Tracey, Conservative transport spokesman at on the Assembly.
Mr Tracey said: “A clear majority of Londoners are fed up of tube strikes but, quite rightly, want to make sure that workers’ are represented when it comes to issues of pay and conditions.
“That’s why the Conservatives on the London Assembly are specifically calling for these strikes to be banned and replaced with a compulsory mediation process, which uses an independent judge or panel to choose between the competing positions of the trade union and the employer.”
