[Yossarian_Lives]

I don't know if you're a Londoner, but for what it's worth, I think Uber's promotion (poorly conceived and worded as it is) won't be read that way in London. The tube workers are split between a number of unions, the TSSA, ASLEF and the RMT, of which only the RMT is participating in this latest strike (previous strikes this year have been cross-union). Also important to note is that the RMT had been led by Bob Crow for the past 12 years until he died suddenly in March. Under his leadership, the RMT was very aggressive with its strike action in comparison to the other unions, but that policy successfully boosted its tube driver members to an average salary of £52,000/pa ($87,400/pa). And even though he was a hate figure for much of the right-wing press during his lifetime, on his passing there was a consensus of sorts that he had been exceptionally good at his job and was actually well-regarded by his opposite numbers at Transport for London (who run the tube) as tough but a pragmatist.

This latest strike takes place in the shadow of the battle to succeed Bob Crow at the RMT. Tactically, it could undermine the union, as TfL will be able to keep a significant part of the network operational. However, none of the candidates for the leadership of the Union can oppose it for fear of being tarred as a management stooge by their rivals. Of course, that's not to say that both the TfL and even the other unions won't benefit if this strike proceeds and ends up being a damp squib.

All of which is to say, as working class demonstrations go, this one's something of an edge case. I'm pro organised labour but I think this particular strike is going to damage the cause more than it helps -- if the RMT is painted as reckless users of their strike power, the (right-of-centre) government will have an easier time either making it harder to strike (in terms of forcing minimum participation thresholds) or even the nuclear option of making the Tube an essential service, which would put its workers in the same position as the Police, Army and prison officers, who are legally barred from striking.