Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn stood in solidarity with rail workers in Newcastle on Saturday (June 25) – as the third day of rail strikes intensified in the North East and across the UK.
As rail passengers faced further disruption as rail strikes took hold, Mr Corbyn stood shoulder to shoulder with RMT union members at Newcastle Central Station.
Dressed in a cream-coloured suit, the former Labour leader joined Gateshead MP Ian Mearns on the steps of the city’s rail facility – with a sign that read ‘official picket line’, while others present had banners that stated, ‘cut fares, not staff’.
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The RMT union has taken industrial action over a multi-year pay freeze and a lack of guarantee that there would be no compulsory redundancies across the network.
Train services across the UK have been thrown into chaos after two planned strikes took place on Tuesday and Thursday, with services running on the days in between also facing major delays and cancellations.
Train operators have strongly urged passengers to “only travel by train if necessary” this and to check their journey in advance.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said further industrial action has not been ruled out.
He has called on UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to “tone down the rhetoric and get on with his job” to settle the bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
This support for the rail union from Mr Corbyn isn’t the first time that he has backed the RMT, with the Politian taking to Twitter to share messages of solidarity with rail workers taking part in the strikes.
“Solidarity with @RMTunion railway workers striking up and down the country this week,” Mr Corbyn tweeted.
“We cannot let the profits of the rich continue to grow at the expense of workers’ jobs, wages, conditions, pensions and safety.”
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