Between Wednesday 27 July and Monday 1st August national strike action is taking place on four days, organised by three trade unions (RMT, Aslef and CWU) – with defence of their members’ living standards against the background of the cost-of-living crisis being a central feature of each.

Wednesday 27 July: The fourth strike day in a series of national rail strikes by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) across train operating companies and Network Rail. TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association) members are also striking in Avanti West Coast. RMT strikes are to follow on 18 August and 20 August, as well as further action by RMT members on London Underground. Click here for our latest RMT article. 

Friday 29 July: Strike action by 40,000 BT and Openreach members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU). This is the first national strike in BT since 1987. Click here for our latest CWU article. 

Saturday 30th July: Train drivers in the Aslef union (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) strike across eight different Train Operating Companies. TSSA members are taking action ‘short of strike’ in Great Western Railway. Click here for our latest Aslef article. 

Monday 1st August: A second strike day by BT and Openreach members of the CWU.

Other sectors and unions are considering or planning action – in what can become a mighty wave of strikes in defence of workers’ living standards.

See : Public sector workers prepare for action on pay

Join the National Shop Stewards Network lobby of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton on Sunday 11 September to call for coordination of the action across the public and private sectors.

A selection of photos from the picket lines (most recent at the top) by Socialist Party members:

Carlisle CWU picket, 29.7.22, photo by Robert Charlesworth
Carlisle CWU picket, 29.7.22, photo by Robert Charlesworth
Bracknell picket, CWU 1.8.22
Bracknell picket, CWU 1.8.22
CWU picket line, North Benfleet, 30.7.22
CWU picket line, North Benfleet, 1.8.22
CWU picket line, South Shields, 30.7.22
CWU picket line, South Shields, 1.8.22
CWU picket line, Cardiff, 30.7.22
CWU picket line, Cardiff, 1.8.22
CWU picket line, 30.7.22
CWU picket line, 1.8.22
CWU picket line, London, 1st August 2022
CWU picket line, London, 1st August 2022
Northampton CWU picket, 30.7.22, photo by Harrison Cairns
Northampton CWU picket, 30.7.22, photo by Harrison Cairns
The Aslef picket line at Euston station, supported by international visitors in London for the CWI summer school; and also Jeremy Corbyn
Aslef picket line Stratford, E London, 30.7.22
Aslef picket line in Reading, 30.7.22
Aslef picket line Paddington, London, 30.7.22
Aslef picket line Paddington, London, 30.7.22
Paddington, Aslef picket 30.7.22
Aslef picket line in Swansea 30.7.22
Aslef picket line in Swansea 30.7.22
Aslef picket line at Euston station, 30.7.22, with Rob Williams (NSSN & Socialist Party) on the left
Aslef picket line at Chingford, London
Reading the Socialist, CWU picket in Sheffield, 29.7.22
Reading the Socialist, CWU picket in Sheffield, 29.7.22
CWU picket line in Sheffield, 29.7.22
CWU picket line in Sheffield, 29.7.22
CWU picket line in Enfield, 29.7.22
CWU picket line in Enfield, 29.7.22
CWU picket line in Northolt, 29.7.22
CWU picket line in Northolt, 29.7.22
Cardinal telephone exchange CWU picket line in Leicester, 29.7.22
Cardinal telephone exchange CWU picket line in Leicester, 29.7.22
Liverpool CWU picket line 29.7.22
Folkestone
Southampton
Doncaster
Swansea
Coventry bin workers join CWU picket line
Pontypridd – a BT striker with the Socialist. 29.7.22, photo by Mariam Kamish
CWU strikers, London, 29.7.22, photo by Rob Williams
CWU strikers, London, 29.7.22, photo by Rob Williams
RMT strike on 27.7.22 in Southampton
RMT strike on 27.7.22 in Southampton
RMT signallers on strike, Eastleigh, 27.7.22
RMT signallers on strike, Eastleigh, 27.7.22
Hastings RMT picket, 27.7.22, photo by James Ellis
Hastings RMT picket, 27.7.22, photo by James Ellis
RMT strike, Doncaster, 27.7.22, photo by Alistair Tice
RMT strike, Doncaster, 27.7.22, photo by Alistair Tice
RMT strike, Sheffield, 27.7.22, photo by Alistair Tice
RMT strike, Sheffield, 27.7.22, photo by Alistair Tice
RMT strike, Exeter, photo by Duncan Moore
RMT strike, Exeter, photo by Duncan Moore
RMT strike, Northampton, photo by Katie Simpson
RMT strike, Northampton, photo by Katie Simpson
RMT strike, Swansea, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Swansea, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Leeds, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Leeds, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Hull, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Hull, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Leicester, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Leicester, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Newcastle, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Newcastle, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Newcastle, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Newcastle, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Cardiff, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Cardiff, 27.7.22
Liverpool Lime Street, 27.7.22
Liverpool Lime Street, 27.7.22
Liverpool Picton Road, 27.7.22
Liverpool Picton Road, 27.7.22
RMT strike, York, 27.7.22
RMT strike, York, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Swansea, 27.7.22
RMT strike, Swansea, 27.7.22
Barrow 27.7.22 - photo by Martin Powell-Davies
Barrow 27.7.22 – photo by Martin Powell-Davies
Plymouth 27.7.22 - photo by Ryan Aldred
Plymouth 27.7.22 – photo by Ryan Aldred
Bristol Temple Meads 27.7.22 -photo by Mike Luff
Bristol Temple Meads 27.7.22 -photo by Mike Luff
Bristol Temple Meads 27.7.22. Photo by Roger Thomas
Bristol Temple Meads 27.7.22. Photo by Roger Thomas
Birmingham New Street, 27.7.22, photo by Nick Hart
Birmingham New Street, 27.7.22, photo by Nick Hart
Coventry, 27.7.22
Coventry, 27.7.22
Bristol Temple Meads 27.7.22 - photo by Tom Baldwin
Bristol Temple Meads 27.7.22 – photo by Tom Baldwin
Salisbury 27.7.22 - Photo by Keelie
Salisbury 27.7.22 – Photo by Keelie
Birmingham, 27.7.22
Nuneaton, 27.7.22, photo by Nick Hart
In Birmingham, 27.7.22
In Birmingham, 27.7.22
Wimbledon, 27.7.22, photo by Adam
Wimbledon, 27.7.22, photo by Adam
Victoria station, 27.7.22, photo by Paula Mitchell
Victoria station, 27.7.22, photo by Paula Mitchell
Victoria station, 27.7.22, photo by Paula Mitchell
Victoria station, 27.7.22, photo by Paula Mitchell
Liverpool Street station, 27.7.22, photo by Isai
Liverpool Street station, 27.7.22, photo by Isai
Euston station, 27.7.22
Euston station 27.7.22
Tottenham Hale, London, 27.7.22
Tottenham Hale, London, 27.7.22