Liverpool RMT picket stops strike-breaking management
Roger Bannister, Liverpool Socialist Party
RMT strikers were joined by other trade unionists and supporters, including Socialist Party members, at Merseyrail’s Kirkdale Depot on Saturday 7 January, where strike-breaking managers were undertaking the work of the strikers, including crucial signalling work.
Almost 100 people were present at 5.45 am, approximately fifteen minutes before a Network Rail van arrived leading a convoy of strike breakers.
These vehicles were unable to move for around two hours. Two police officers arrived, but left when assurances were given by local RMT leaders that emergency vehicles would be let through if necessary.
Pickets sang “RMT, RMT, RMT, RMT, send the scabs packing, RMT” to the tune of the Beatles song ‘Let It Be’!
One striker told me that he had been given six months of intensive training before he was allowed to operate a signal box, but these managers had just watched a few videos!
There was understandable anger at Merseyrail compromising safety in this way.
Eventually the strike breakers abandoned attempts to drive in and relied on the police to get them across the picket line on foot. However, the action had closed Merseyrail’s northern line, which services four separate destinations from the city centre, and led to the cancellation of at least fourteen trains.
Train drivers defiant in face of planned anti-union laws
Mark Sarson, train driver at Leicester and Aslef member, spoke to The Socialist on the fifth day of strike action on 5 January:
“The company failed to make a pay offer for 2022 and we have not had a pay rise for four years now. Leicester is strong and 100% and will remain that way until we get what we want from the dispute.
“I don’t think the new government anti-union proposals on minimum service levels will work anyway, it’s failed to work in other European countries where they’ve got similar kinds of service requirements on railways.
“But it’s an attack on trade unionists and workers across the UK and our ability to strike. It tries to silence and control us. It’s like going back to Victorian times and a draconian way of controlling workers.”
