I wonder from which source Bob Crow, the leader of the RMT union, gets his news. Whichever it is, I have some advice: change it.

It seems that Mr Crow's news provider has omitted to cover a story that the rest of us became aware of a while ago: the collapse of the economy. Yesterday Lloyds Banking Group made 1,660 people redundant after deciding to close all its Cheltenham & Gloucester branches. The day before, LDV laid off 800 workers. Not surprisingly, most of us in work are doing everything we can to ensure that our employer remains in business. Some are taking pay cuts; others going part-time. Sensible union leaders recognise this reality and are doing deals with companies. For those unfortunate enough to be starting from a low base, there's a widespread, if grudging, acceptance that catch-up pay rises will have to wait until things pick up.

Sensible union leaders, that is. Mr Crow - Arthur Scargill without the brains or charm - lives in a different world, one where employers sit on piles of cash, keeping it from workers through sheer bloody- mindedness, and taxpayers wait with eager anticipation to hand over ever larger sums to the public sector.

Mr Crow is forcing a 48-hour strike on the London Tube because the RMT has been refused a 5 per cent pay rise and a guarantee of no compulsory job losses.

Find me a private sector employer offering a 5 per cent rise and I'll show you one who'll be out of business before you can say “RMT”. Find me an employer who can guarantee no job losses and I'll find you a public sector employer.

And that's what Mr Crow is banking on. He believes that you and I should have to dig deeper into our pockets to increase the pay of RMT members such as station supervisors earning £39,000, Tube drivers on starting salaries of £40,000 and station assistants starting on £29,000. There's nothing low about the salary base of Mr Crow's members.

Because of Mr Crow, the London economy will lose tens, if not hundreds, of millions of pounds. Tonight's England World Cup football game may even have to be played at an empty stadium.

There is nothing that we, or the FA, can do about any of this, because if a trade union follows the correct procedure, it has statutory immunity from any legal action brought against it. If someone causes me a nuisance, I can sue for damages - unless they are a trade union. Hasn't the time come to treat trade unions the same as anyone else? Why should the RMT have the power to wreck my plans without a single consequence?

Stephen Pollard is Editor of the Jewish Chronicle

Times Recommends

• Resist urge to throw voters red meat
• Slay sacred cows and be candid
• We cannot let these 100 deaths deflect us