Socialist Party reporters
RMT transport union held a week of action across the railways and tube network from 7-13 March, which “shows that members are prepared to make a stand for pay and workplace justice in the teeth of attacks stemming from the cost-of-living crisis, private profiteering and government-driven cuts.”
Cleaners were out on strike on 12 March on the West Coast and London and South Eastern services in a battle against poverty pay. Conductors on TransPennine Express struck on 13 March in an ongoing fight for ?pay justice. While drivers on London Underground are continuing their action for better ‘employment practices’ on the Night Tube, that addresses the issue of work-life balance.
RMT members also held a day of leafleting on 9 March outside major rail stations including Leeds, where Socialist Party members joined them. This was over the latest round of fare hikes of 3.8%, at a time many rail services are facing huge cuts. As the leaflets were headlined, rail users are paying #Moreforless.
At the same time as these cuts are affecting rail service users and workers, shareholders have received £2 billion in handouts. It’s time not only to end the cuts to rail services, but also to take the services out of the hands of these private sector profiteers and into public ownership under the democratic control of elected reps of rail workers and service users.
