The latest strike by railway workers took place yesterday as protesters gathered to demand action to ease the cost of living crisis.
The majority of ScotRail services were cancelled as thousands attended the demonstration in Glasgow addressed by union leaders. Transport unions calling for better pay and conditions set up picket lines in Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen while the rally staged by the Enough is Enough umbrella group – a coalition of community groups and trade unionists – gathered in Buchanan Street to call for urgent action to ease the impact of the cost of living crisis. Chris Mitchell from the GMB union told the rally: “You should be proud of yourselves today. The working class are alive and kicking.”
A strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) meant just 400 ScotRail services ran yesterday, around a fifth of the usual timetable. Another strike is planned for this Saturday.
50 demonstrations that stretched from Aberdeen to Ramsgate to Cardiff.
Supporting 200,000 on strike – and it’s only the start.
Nurses. Teachers. Firefighters. Lecturers. Civil servants.
All balloting for strike action in the coming weeks.
The fightback is on.#EnoughIsEnough
— Ronan Burtenshaw (@ronanburtenshaw) October 1, 2022
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said the knock-on effects of the industrial action will impact services today and next Sunday.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “Despite our best efforts to compromise and find a breakthrough in talks, rail unions remain intent on continuing and coordinating their strike action.”
Over 100,000 on the streets saying #EnoughIsEnough 👊
And it’s only the beginning.
Join the movement to take our country back from the brink.https://t.co/1SeHcIFCnR pic.twitter.com/XR20zfGl9E
— Enough is Enough (@eiecampaign) October 1, 2022
Gordon Martin, the RMT’s regional organiser for Scotland, said: “While there are pay freezes being imposed on workers, the bosses and the bankers are getting income tax reductions and bonuses. So a bit of fairness is required here.”
Meanwhile, postal workers from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) also walked out on yesterday. The CWU claims Royal Mail is asking postal workers to trade terms and conditions for a pay rise while the Royal Mail called 19 days of industrial action “reckless”.
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