Commuter storms strike union HQ

A FURIOUS commuter confronted union leaders behind the longest rail strike in British history and tried to lock them inside their headquarters.

The man barged past security at the RMT union’s head office and into a meeting of senior officials, shouting: “You’re going to ruin my life!”

He then attempted to lock the door and told union executives they would not be allowed to leave until the action was called off.

Police were called before the man was eventually frogmarched out of the building by staff members who heard screams for help from the executives.

It came amid rising fury among passengers at disruption caused by the walkout on South Western Railway, which began on Monday and is due to last until the end of the month.

Passengers have already demanded refunds on season tickets after complaining of people fainting or falling ill on “dangerously” overcrowded trains.

Others say they have lost work because of the delays. Only about half of scheduled services have been running.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt that the incident involving the protester took place at lunchtime on Monday at the RMT’S head office, a large red-brick building near King’s Cross station in London. The man pushed his way past a receptionist and into an office where three officials were holding a meeting.

Mick Cash, the RMT’S general secretary, is understood not to have been in the room, but was upstairs.

Steve Hedley, assistant general secretary of the RMT, described the man as an “anti-working-class yob”.

“This guy came into the building, ranting about the strike,” he said. “The assailant verbally assaulted our receptionist before forcing his way into an executive office. He then forced the door open and knocked her back.

“He was shouting, ‘You’re going to ruin my f---ing life.’ Then he attempted to lock the door and said, ‘Nobody’s leaving.’ He was a stocky man of average height, about 40.”

The union claimed yesterday the central issue in the dispute was now whether guards should have a few seconds more to ensure trains can leave platforms safely.

In a letter to the company, Mr Cash said: “I am writing to ask for your agreement to reopen talks around an operational framework that would allow for the action called for December to be suspended.

“It is our view that adding three or four seconds dwell time at each station … is surely a small price to pay to guarantee the safety and accessibility for all, which is the issue at the heart of the dispute.”

A police spokesman said: “Police were called at 11.48 on Dec 2 to reports that a man had entered a building on Chalton Street, NW1, before verbally abusing members of staff.

“The man subsequently left the building. Officers were not required to attend.”