Tube drivers on 72,000 can't afford to buy a house in London', says RMT boss

"Asked on Times Radio whether he thought 72,000 was a good wage, Mr Dempsey said: Well you can't afford to buy a house in London, even on 72,000. He added: I think workers should be able to afford to live in London. And if the average house price if you've got to be earning more than 100,000 to buy a house in London 72,000 is not out of this world."

"Mr Dempsey said members take no pleasure in disruption but made no apology for fighting hard for our members. He told Times Radio: We often get people in the media attacking us for having wages that most people in Britain have lost. So we make no apologies for that. We understand the disruptions are a real pain for people. We take no pleasure in it."

Tube drivers are striking because they say they cannot afford to buy a house in London on a £72,000 salary. Union leaders argue workers should be able to afford to live in London and that many would need to earn more than £100,000 to buy a house there. The union acknowledges that £72,000 is a good wage while pushing for further improvements in pay and conditions. Average pay in London is £65,994 and £46,006 across the South East. The RMT faced criticism over reported leisure discounts for members, which an RMT negotiator called 'complete nonsense.' The union says it takes no pleasure in disruption.

Read at www.standard.co.uk