Boris says awesome things...

You’d have thought that it would be pretty easy to establish.  Are there going to be a series of disruptive and extended strikes on the London Underground, or aren’t there?

This week’s events have proved that things are never quite that easy.

Earlier in the week, Boris was at his wit’s end with the Unions.  On Monday, the Financial Times was reporting that the Mayor wanted employment law to be changed in order that half of all eligible Union members were required to participate in a strike ballot before it could be passed.  His advisors said that “Without a change in the (employment) law there is a limit to what we can do.”

And, RMT General Secretary Bob ‘the’ Crow claimed late into Tuesday afternoon that Tube strikes were still planning to go ahead, despite statements to the contrary. Ultimately, however, common sense seems to have prevailed and the strikes have been called off.

The decision to suspend strike action (after one of the individuals at the centre of the dispute was re-instated in a different role) seems to have forced the Mayor to tone down his language. He said: “It is right for London Underground management and the unions to strive to achieve a more constructive, long-term engagement and I wish to encourage that.

“The capital is rightly fed up with pointless, futile and destructive strikes.”

With the Olympics and the small matter of his re-election up for grabs, perhaps Bozza has realised the being nice to the Unions and avoiding strikes which affect millions of Londoners might be a better course of action than beating them with a large stick….?

It’s been a bumper week here at Boriswatch HQ. Not only did we get to catch a tiny glimpse of Pippa Middleton’s taut bu[Er, Snip - Boriswatch Taste and Decency Editor] at the Royal Wedding, but we’ve all had a wee payrise.

Thanks to Boris, the London Living Wage has been raised to £8.30 an hour, 40 per cent more than the current minimum wage of £5.93. The increase of 45p is the highest since it was introduced back in 2005 and is, according to the Financial Times, ‘a sign of the increasing cost of living in the capital, pushed up by the high level of inflation.’

In order to take London’s lowest paid workers above the poverty line, the seventh annual London living wage report, published today by GLA Economics, concludes that an hourly wage 22 per cent above the national minimum is needed. Currently, one in six London workers are paid below the ‘living wage’.

Whilst over 100 companies now pay the London living wage as their minimum rate, the Mayor is keen to persuade more businesses to pledge to pay the higher level. Boris said: “It really is a win-win for employers, as paying a fair wage fosters a loyal and motivated workforce while at the same time continues to help pull many Londoners out of poverty and boost the capital’s economy.�

Richard Reid, London chairman of KPMG, the accountants, said: “We have been paying the living wage since 2006 and have found that it is not just the fair thing to do, but also makes good business sense. Since its introduction, staff turnover has reduced and productivity has increased as attitudes are more flexible and positive.�

Lovely.  We’re off to buy a new flat in Hampstead with the extra dosh.