UK trade union RMT members have once again taken to picket lines, in a show of industrial strength, on the second day of national rail strike action.
Over 40,000 members are on strike over a multiyear pay freeze and a lack of job security, with Network Rail and the train operating companies threatening thousands of compulsory redundancies.
For All Working People
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members are leading the way in standing up for all working people trying to get a pay rise and some job security.
“In a modern economy, workers need to be properly rewarded for their work, enjoy good conditions and have the peace of mind that their job will not be taken away from them.
“[Transport Secretary] Grant Shapps needs to get in the room or get out of the way, so we can negotiate with these companies who we have successfully struck dozens of deals with previously.
“What we cannot accept is thousands of railway workers being thrown on the scrapheap after being praised as heroes during Covid.
“RMT will continue its industrial campaign until a negotiated settlement is reached.”
Talks continue with Network Rail and the train operating companies, and strike action scheduled for Saturday remains on.
Important railway stations including London Euston, London Paddington, Edinburgh Waverley and Liverpool Lime Street saw fewer travelers amid the disruption today.
Strikes Terrible Idea, Says Boris Johnson
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that there is a need for reforms of the rail system, calling the strikes “unnecessary” and a “terrible idea.”
His “reforms” involve withdrawing billions in funding and axing thousands of staff.
The government has been accused of putting obstacles in the way of a deal, which it has denied, and has been criticized for not meeting with rail workers’ leaders for three months ahead of the strikes to avoid the industrial action.
RMT pointed to Shapps “wrecking” negotiations by preventing Network Rail from withdrawing a letter which threatens redundancy for 2,900 members of the union.
Shapps has called the claim from RMT a “lie.”
Labour MP Joins Workers In Leeds
In Leeds, strikers were joined by Leeds East Labour MP Richard Burgon as more Labour MPs showed solidarity with striking rail workers despite an order by party leader Sir Keir Starmer not to support striking workers on picket lines.
Sir Keir said MPs could face punishment if they do.
Mr Burgon said he was proud to attend the picket line to show support for railway staff.
He told the Morning Star: “The government is treating RMT and railway workers appallingly.
“People are living through a cost-of-living emergency. Prices are soaring and people’s wages are losing their value.
“The reason for inflation is not [that] people have money in their pockets. They do not.
“Railway workers and workers more widely in private and public sectors do not only deserve a pay rise.
“They need a pay rise. We cannot carry on allowing wages to go down so that profits can go up.”
More Support
Also supporting the Leeds pickets were members of Unite Community union, and the city’s Acorn tenants’ union.
More Strike Likely
More strike action is likely on the northern rail network as TSSA announced a ballot of its members working at Trans Pennine Express.
The union is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.
General secretary Manuel Cortes said: “It’s time the government changed course.
“Instead of making cuts across our railway the DfT should either give Trans Pennine and other companies the signal to make us a reasonable offer, or ministers should come to the negotiating table and speak to us directly.
“The alternative is a fast-approaching summer of discontent across our rail network.”
Voting begins on June 29 and closes on July 13.
British Airways Workers At Heathrow Vote Overwhelmingly For Strike Action
British Airways (BA) workers at Heathrow airport overwhelmingly voted to strike in a dispute over pay today.
Members of the GMB and Unite, including check-in staff, will now decide on strike dates, which the unions said were likely to be held during the peak summer holiday period.
GMB national officer Nadine Houghton said: “With grim predictability, holidaymakers face massive disruption thanks to the pig-headedness of BA.
“BA has tried to offer our members crumbs from the table in the form of a 10 per cent one-off bonus payment, but this does not cut the mustard.
“Our members need to be reinstated the 10 per cent they had stolen from them last year with full back pay and the 10 per cent bonus which other colleagues have been paid.”
With union members at the airport suffering “untold abuse” as they deal with the travel chaos while having their pay slashed due to a fire and rehire policy, Ms Houghton questioned what the airline thought would happen.
“It is not too late to save the summer holidays – other BA workers have had their pay cuts reversed,” she said.
“Do the same for ground and check-in staff and this industrial action can be nipped in the bud.”
Unite officer Russ Ball blamed BA for the strike after the company brutally cut jobs and pay during the pandemic despite receiving government support.
He said BA has insulted its workforce, who are being treated as “second-class citizens.
“The company has a short window of opportunity to reinstate our members’ pay before strikes are called,” Mr Ball said.
“I urge BA not to squander that opportunity.”
In a statement, BA said it was “extremely disappointed” in the decision and that it is fully committed to finding a solution.
