Forum Topic

RMT Strike For 1 Week ~ w/e/f 7th Sept

Workers on the London Underground will strike from Sunday 7 September over pay and conditions, Eddie Dempsey, the general-secretary of the RMT union, has announced.Well surprise surprise!   Public service workers again.  The Unions know Labour is a soft touch and will always appease its paymasters.Who saw this coming ...?  Everybody!   Nurses next?

Sue Hammond ● 13d6 Comments

The rail unions quite rightly promote their cause of improving their members pay and conditions which includes safety. Having listened to a train driver explaining their working day one does appreciate it is not an easy job which is why so many drop out even after passing their training.Nurses on the other hand have broad public support which is good for a clap and little more. The reluctance to take industrial action means that they will get low pay rises and the government will continue it's policy of importing nurses from countries that can not afford to loose them.I have to say over the years I've heard many people complaining about other people's pay rises being too high but I don't think I have ever heard those same people making any reference when their own pay rise.One of the problems with the UK is it has become a low pay state that then relies on government to top up working people pay so they can afford to live.Its an odd situation where the private sector enjoys state subsidies to its work force whilst those pretending to be for the people  pursue the exact same policy and will justify the high level of taxation to do so.Be it Thatcher or Brown and every government since this is just corruption masquerading as capitalism or socialism.

Ed Robinson ● 11d

Mr Ainsworth - 'defender of the oppressed tube drivers and Palestinian Arabs (and continual attacker of Israel and the Jews and ignorer of questions posed to him about how he would solve the Israel-Palestine conflict he seems so concerned about)'.'Your posting was centred on the RMT and there you appear to be incorrect, and only saved by my helpful c&p facts about the actual "paymaster" unions.'What on earth are you rabbiting on about ?Please make your responses clearer for they certainly are not helpful, though bearing in mind your pompous self-regard you might think so.

John Hawkes ● 11d

Your posting was centred on the RMT and there you appear to be incorrect, and only saved by my helpful c&p facts about the actual "paymaster" unions.

David Ainsworth ● 12d

Ms HammondBe honest.Do you really think £80,000 a year for a thirty four hour week plus free travel for you and your family is too much for driving a train that in so many other capitals and cities in the world is controlled by computerisation ?😉As is the case for the DLR, Central and Northern lines though I understand that on the latter two lines a 'driver' sits in the cab presumably playing Candy Crush on his/her mobile.

John Hawkes ● 12d

Thanks for the c&p.  I did actually say the Unions (plural) are Labour's paymasters and your post confirms it.

Sue Hammond ● 13d

The RMT is not much of a paymaster:-Biggest trade union donors:Unite £414,610.52Unison £347,562.68GMB £229,448CWU £101,205.93ASLEF £28,404.29USDAW £16,827FBU £11,725.00CTU £11,541.79https://labourlist.org/2025/06/news-labour-donors-revealed-2025/Google AI:-"Does the RMT fund LabourThe Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union does not officially affiliate with or provide permanent financial support to the Labour Party. The union ended its affiliation with Labour in 2004, following disagreements over the party's policies, particularly regarding railway privatization. The RMT has a political fund, funded by deductions from members' subscriptions (known as the political levy), which is used to campaign on issues that affect its members, such as jobs, pay, and conditions, and to lobby politicians. The RMT held a ballot of its members in late 2024 on the continuation of its political fund, with members voting overwhelmingly in favour. However, despite not being affiliated, the RMT has stated that it will "align" itself with Labour and encourages its branches and regions to financially support Labour candidates, particularly those who support policies such as the New Deal for Working People, which includes repealing anti-trade union laws and public ownership of public transport. The union has also expressed strong support for a Labour-led government, believing it to be in the interest of working people to remove the Conservative government. The RMT has, however, made it clear that there will be "no blank cheques" for Labour and that it will continue to challenge the party on its policies. The RMT also remains affiliated with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and fields candidates under that banner in some elections."Google:-"How much did RMT give to Labour party in 2024""In 2024, the RMT Union made a £5,000 donation to the Labour Party to assist with general election campaigning costs, specifically in connection with Labour MP Richard Burgon. Details of the Donation Donor: RMT Trade UnionRecipient: Labour Party (in relation to Richard Burgon)Amount: £5,000Purpose: Donation towards General Election campaigning costsDate Published: 30 July 2024Source: This information is from the Register of Members' Interests, published on TheyWorkForYou."I don't think that the RMT will like Starmer much. They fell out with Blair.

David Ainsworth ● 13d