More than 70 people from unions and the public gathered in Cardiff under pouring rain to stand with RMT workers on the third day of their industrial action, telling voice.wales that the strike had inspired other working people.
Words and images by Ka Long Tung
Cardiff Trades Council organised a rally in Cardiff city centre on Saturday in support of rail workers who were striking against a pay freeze, job cuts and attacks on working conditions.
Demonstrators marched to the Cardiff Central Library with flags and placards amid violent rain while the rail strike entered its final day.
The rally and picket line was joined by other unions including Unite Wales, Caerphilly Trades Council, Unite Young Members, Acorn Cardiff, Wales TUC and others.
“I think it’s [the rail strike] inspired people because it can show even with just 42,000 members, the RMT can grind the whole country to a halt,” said Katrine Williams, President of Cardiff Trades Council.
“If the teachers were out, all the services were out. Obviously, we’ve got all disputes brewing in British Airways and other parts of transport. So I think it’s hotting up in terms of people prepared to take action.”
On Wednesday, National Education Union said they would ballot their members on strike later this year demanding an “inflation-plus” pay rise. On Thursday, British Airways Heathrow staff voted to go on a summer strike over pay.
Jerry Edwards, an RMT member and Great Western Railway worker who had gone on strike all three days, said that pay was just one of the reasons that he’s joining the industrial action. “It’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“What we’re looking at is what’s below the water line. We’re talking about our working conditions. We do not want the compulsory redundancies, we do not want fire and rehire. And it’s disgusting that we should be been in this position. That’s why we’re striking.”
On top of job insecurity, workers across the UK are facing a 40-year peak of inflation as high as 9.1%. “Every time I pass a gas station, and you see that the price of fuel is going up too,” said Edwards. “That’s just one element of the cost of living crisis. And it’s just going to get worse.”
Katrine Williams of Cardiff Trades Council backed up the point, explaining that the cost of living crisis was the reason that the strike had huge public support:
“Because we’re all facing below-inflation pay rises if we’re gonna get a pay rise at all. So we can’t afford to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table if we don’t get a decent pay rise.”
At noon, rally organisers attempted to start the rally outside the Central Library before a booming thunder was heard. The crowd then moved to the nearby Tabernacle Chapel, which lent the space to the strikers at short notice, to continue the event.
Among the crowd was Wendy Lewis from the Cardiff Reds Choir who said she came to support the railworkers who had endured pay cuts during the pandemic.
“It should not be that money has been taken from them, and it should be given back to them, especially when you look at the way that the companies have made such profits,” said Lewis.
She agreed that RMT had set an example for others as workers ranging from teachers to nurses had been facing the same hardship.
Although Transport for Wales had not been involved in the strike, RMT staff working for Network Rail in Wales had been on strike, meaning that services were seriously affected. Picket lines had been held across Wales all strike days.
The RMT union has been asking for at least a 7% pay offer, while employers offer a maximum of 3% rise with strings attached. Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the RMT, previously said that rail strikes could carry on into autumn.
At the same time, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) will start to ballot its members in Greater Anglia for strike action on June 29, with the result due in mid-July.
Steve Skelly, RMT regional director, said that the union would take further action to defend members’ interests if there are no assurances from the employers or the government.
Skelly criticised the inaction of the UK government regarding the workers’ demands. “The Westminster government, in one sense seen, it’s nothing to do with them. They do not get involved in negotiations, they refused an offer of meeting with the RMT General Secretary, National and Assistant General Secretary to resolve this issue.”
Tory Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has insisted it was not the government’s responsibility to negotiate with the unions and has labelled RMT’s request for a meeting was a stunt. But the strikes have rattled the government, with polling showing that the public back the rail workers.
Skelly noticed that the reaction from the public had been positive during the strike. “The support we’ve received from across the society, in general, has been excellent.”
He thought the strike had influenced workers to defend their conditions. “I really believe it’s empowered working people to fight for a better deal for themselves and defend their interests.”
Image reel, scroll for images.
