‘This government is trying to screw working people into the ground’
A wave of strike action from rail workers will cause further disruption across the country this weekend. RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) is taking further strike action on Saturday 8 October in a dispute with the government and rail companies about pay, job cuts and changes to terms and conditions.
It shows the growing amount of support for social justice and the fact that trade unions are the only thing that stand in the way of endless austerity and poverty.
RMT says that neither the Rail Delivery Group or Network Rail has produced an offer that addresses the cost-of-living crisis or its members’ concerns about the threats of mass redundancies, hugely detrimental changes to terms and conditions and the imposition of longer working hours for less pay.
RMT has welcomed support for the strike action from artists from Primal Scream, Dexys, and the Jesus and Mary Chain.
Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes, together with Dexys’ Kevin Rowland and Sean Read, plus Jesus and Mary Chain bassist Douglas Hart, have joined forces to produce a song and video in support of RMT’s fight against low pay and cuts to jobs and services. They are currently working on the song Enough is Enough to highlight support for rail workers strike action and against Tory austerity. The song will be released at the end of October 2022.
Kevin Rowland said that RMT’s battle for workplace justice had been an inspiration for millions of people. He said, “RMT has been leading the way on behalf of working people and now other unions are joining the fight against low pay and this government that is trying to screw working people into the ground.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said, “My union is thrilled that music legends such as Primal Scream and Dexys and others want to support workers in struggle.
“It shows the growing amount of support for social justice and the fact that trade unions are the only thing that stand in the way of endless austerity and poverty.”
As RMT union strikes involve Network Rail signallers, strike action on Saturday 8 October will cause both nationwide and regional disruption. Merseyrail will be running a limited train service on Saturday 8 October.
Passengers are advised to check if their journey is affected before travelling, or make alternative travel arrangements.
