RMT Glasgow rally. Photo: Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Vladimir Unkovski-Korica reports on the Glasgow RMT picket line and strike rally and Counterfire members give us a view of picket lines around the country
Following another strong picket at Glasgow Central, the RMT today held a protest outside the Network Rail offices in Vincent Street a short walk away at 12.30.
Cross-union support was immediately visible, with speakers and banners from Unite, Unison, GMB and UCU.
Speaking for the RMT union, Gordon Martin made particular mention of the threatened 50 percent cut in fleet maintenance regimes, which he said would put the safety and lives of passengers at greater risk.
Moreover, he decried the shameful proposed legislation further attacking the right to strike, already massively curtailed in Tory Britain.
The assembled crowd of 150 demonstrated that there was widespread support for the RMT and an understanding that wider issues were at stake.
Speakers repeatedly made the point that the attacks on rail workers and working people across the country in the context of the greatest cost of living crisis required a unified and militant response from the labour movement. Calls for striking together went down particularly well.
This kind of solidarity shows the way but needs to be built on going forward. We need to move from words to mass, joint action.
Lewisham
In Lewisham, the local People’s Assembly organised a solidarity rally at the picket line which saw the community turnout to show their support.
Edinburgh
London Bridge
Before you go
Counterfire is growing faster than ever before
We need to raise £20,000 as we are having to expand operations. We are moving to a bigger, better central office, upping our print run and distribution, buying a new printer, new computers and employing more staff.
Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Vladimir Unkovski-Korica is a member of Marks21 in Serbia and a supporter of Counterfire. He is on the editorial board of LeftEast and teaches at the University of Glasgow.