After already being in dispute for several months with bosses at Southern Rail, strikes by railway workers in defence of safety, terms, and conditions have now spread to other areas of the country. On 13th March, strikes were seen at Southern stations, and also at Merseyrail and Northern Rail stations too. We publish here a couple of reports from the picket lines.
After already being in dispute for several months with bosses at Southern Rail, strikes by railway workers in defence of safety, terms, and conditions have now spread to other areas of the country. On 13th March, strikes were seen at Southern stations, and also at Merseyrail and Northern Rail stations too. We publish here a couple of reports from the picket lines.
Newcastle
Just as train guards were striking on the Southern and Merseyrail networks, Northern Rail train guards began a 24-hour strike on Monday 13th March. Although this was the 30th industrial action by the RMT since the dispute with Southern began, these strikes have now spread to the north of England as rail bosses refuse to negotiate and recognise the importance of train guards.
The Newcastle Marxists went out to the picket line at Newcastle Central Station to show solidarity and talk to the workers about the importance of this strike. The RMT’s position is that guards are a critical component of the safe operation of trains; however, Arriva Rail North, the company operating the Northern Rail franchise, are planning to operate a minimum of 50% of trains as driver-only operation (DOO).
The mood was generally quite positive in spite of the persistent cold wind and nagging police presence. Furthermore, the public was very supportive of the strike, realising just how important the job of the train guard is to ensure safe conditions aboard trains and on the platform. Members of the public honked horns and gave words of encouragement as they were passing by. A few people even dropped off snacks to help keep the workers going throughout the day.
The attacks on workers and rail safety are not yet nearly as vicious in the north as they are in the south, but workers on the picket stated that the move towards DOO is purely for profit. Certainly it has yet to be seen how the aftermath of this industrial action will play out, but it would be of little surprise if Arriva Rail North continues to resist negotiating with the RMT over the continued use of train guards or lack thereof.
Newcastle Marxists
Brighton
The capitalist state and the bosses oppress the organised working class in many ways. Firstly, legally, as can be see with the modification of the Trade Union Act this month. As a result of these changes, employers must now be notified of picket lines at least 14 days in advance, and must have a supervisor, in order (in the hypocritical words of the Tory government) to “protect millions of people from the effects of undemocratic strike action”. And secondly, through the presence of management on pickets lines, who try to intimidate trade unionists and encourage workers to break the strike.
These oppressive measures were all attempted against workers on the picket line on 13th March in Brighton, during the first strike organised by the RMT on Southern Rail since the modification of the Trade Union Act.
The solidarity amongst workers, however, is stronger than the intimidating presence of any manager or legal restriction. As a result, an ASLEF union train driver decided to support the RMT strikers, communicating to his manager (who was standing nearby) that he would not cross the picket line.
This simple act of solidarity was warmly received by everyone on the picket line. Moreover, it also encouraged two more drivers to not cross the picket also. Solidarity and unity amongst workers represent, in the end, the only way in which the capitalists’ austerity and attacks can be defeated.
Sandra Weil, Brighton Marxists
