There is concern that union barons will prepare the first countrywide strike since 1926 when they convene a “war cabinet” later this week.
After weeks of devastating walkouts, some of the country’s top union leaders, including Mick Lynch, will convene at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to decide their next move.
It will occur just one day after they meet with ministers to discuss ongoing pay conflicts that have brought significant portions of the country to a standstill over the past year.
According to reports, representatives from the Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) union, Aslef, the GMB, and the RCN nursing union will meet to “compare notes” on their conversations with the government.
On Friday, January 6, Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union, poses at a picket at Euston Station. A gathering of union barons is anticipated for later this week.
On December 20, the secretary general of the Royal College of Nursing, Pat Cullen, visits striking nurses outside Leeds Royal Infirmary. Later this month, nurses in England are scheduled to go on strike again.
There might be Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, and Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Conress.
Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB, and Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, could be present at the meeting.
The union barons gathered this week for a “war cabinet” meeting.
Mick Lynch is the RMT
The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union has been the most prominent person in the recent year’s strikes to rock the United Kingdom.
His passionate defense of the strikes on national television propelled him to fame.
The 60-year-old, who has participated in the labor movement for the most of his working life, was banned after joining a union while employed in construction.
Mr. Lynch has repeatedly accused the government of hindering the union from striking an agreement with train operators and Network Rail.
The Mick Whelan – Aslef album.
As general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers union, Mr Whelan has also become a considerably more visible presence during the last year.
His union, together with the RMT, has caused disruption on the railways this year after hosting many strikes across numerous train operators.
The 63-year-old joined the rail industry in 1984, when it was still state-owned British Rail.
Recently, he criticized the “corrupt deal” between rail firms and the government, and he blamed the Conservatives for the strikes.
Pat Cullen – RCN
The secretary general for the Royal College of Nursing has presided over the first round of industrial action in its 106-year history.
Ms. Cullen, who worked as a nurse in Northern Ireland during the turmoil, rose quickly through the ranks of the RCN, becoming its chief just five years after joining.
She has been gloomy throughout recent strikes, describing the need for such action as a “tragic day for nursing and a tragic day for patients.”
This has not prevented the union from calling for additional strikes, which are scheduled for January 18 and 19.
Paul Nowak – TUC
Frances O’Grady was succeeded by the new general secretary of the TUC at the end of December.
He is no new to the union movement, having joined at the age of 17 and rising to the position of vice president of his local union at the age of 19.
He has taken credit for influencing the Government’s safe working guidance during the Covid epidemic, ensuring tighter measures were put in place than originally put out.
The 50-year-old has called for the Government to be ‘serious’ and begin ‘real talks with unions about pay’.
Gary Smith is the GMB
The trade unionist from Edinburgh has been a member of the GMB for his whole career, having joined at age 16.
He is handsomely rewarded for his post – his pay cheque when he became general secretary in 2021 was £135,000.
He has supported fracking and the £15 living wage while ranting against the “bourgeoisie environmental lobby.”
This past week, he railed against new anti-strike laws and accused the government of “seeking scapegoats” among NHS and ambulance personnel.
Mark Serwotka – PCS
Since 2000, the Welsh leader of the civil servants’ union has served as general secretary of the PCS.
He has publicly supported his employees, including Border Force employees who walked off the job before and after the holidays, prompting the Army to fill in.
In the ongoing dispute with the government, he has recently suggested that Border Force strike action could continue until May.
According to reports, Mr. Serwotka asked for a nationwide strike at an earlier gathering of barons.
The PCS union, which represents civil servants and Border Force personnel, as well as the Prison Officers Association, which is not legally permitted to strike, have been asked to attend.
Mr. Lynch may be joined by Paul Nowak, the new general secretary of the TUC, Mick Whelan, the leader of Aslef, Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB, and Pat Cuthbert, the president of the Royal College of Nursing.
Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the PCS who is rumored to have previously advocated for a countrywide strike, may also be present.
A source told the Sun that although there are currently no plans for a national strike, the government’s plans to tighten down on unions might result in a huge exodus of workers.
They stated, “lets strike now”
According to the TUC, Tuesday’s discussion is “one of a series of regular meetings to consider how we can best support unions engaged in industrial campaigns.”
The massive strike action on Britain’s railways has finally ended, but there will be further walkouts in a number of businesses the next week, including among driving examiners and school employees.
Tuesday and Thursday will see a strike by Abellio bus drivers, while the Elizabeth Line will be affected by a strike on January 12.
In addition to the strike scheduled for January 23, ambulance employees will go on strike this Wednesday. The nurses are planning a two-day walkout on January 18 and 19 in response to their conflict with the government.
Many had hoped for an end to the havoc created by the RMT and Alsef unions, whose strike action in recent weeks led to the cancellation of thousands of trains.
The RMT is at odds with train operators and Network Rail over proposed changes to working conditions and is demanding a wage increase for employees.
Mick Lynch, the organization’s general secretary, has vowed not to back down during the disagreement, citing “massive” support on the picket line.
Polls indicate that over half of the public is now opposed to the strikes.
Mr. Lynch stated, “While the Secretary of State and the Rail Delivery Group spin about the need for reform to fund pay raises, the truth is that the money has always been there, but it is being squandered by a gang of profiteers and their Government buddies.”
It is obscene that the interests of workers, passengers, and the taxpaying public are sacrificed to the avarice of a minority of private transport companies that are promised profits despite their inability to operate a railway when we are not on strike.
‘While executives and the wealthy make millions, our members are being pushed to accept inadequate wage offers and a rollback of their hard-won terms and conditions, amidst a rising cost-of-living problem.
“It is time to prioritize the interests of workers and travelers.
We require a negotiated settlement with both rail operators and Network Rail, and the government must cease obstructing these negotiations.
The government denies obstructing an agreement and insists it is promoting negotiations between employers and labor organizations.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport stated, “Passengers have had enough of rail strikes and want the disruption to end.”
“Unions should halt this strike action so that we can begin 2023 by resolving this damaging dispute,”
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared his intention to enact anti-strike legislation meant to maintain a minimal level of service during walkouts.
Officials are already drafting laws that would secure minimum staffing levels in public services, such as the National Health Service and schools, to mitigate the impact of strikes on the public.
In his first major address since assuming the position, Mr. Sunak argued that individuals should have the freedom to strike.
However, he continued, ‘This must be balanced with the right of the British population to go about their daily lives without experiencing utterly unwarranted disturbance, as we have seen in recent months.
“Therefore, I have stated that we will introduce new legislation that restores this balance and, most importantly, protects people’s lives and livelihoods.”
The statement infuriated the unions, who pledged to “fight” the government if the laws were implemented.
Mr. Lynch told BBC Breakfast on Friday, from the picket line at Euston station, that the government is attempting to “shut down” the unions with the new legislation.
He stated, “This is a sign that the government is losing the argument.”
They have lost the debate on austerity and pay, as well as the condition of our national public services.
And instead, they want to end this debate by disbanding unions and preventing us from advocating against poverty.
He stated that the Bill constitutes a threat to fire union members who fail to report to work.
He stated, “What they are saying is that they will fire our members if they do not report to work.”
Our members are going to be drafted.
“We must specify which members will cross the picket line, and if they refuse to do so in a lawful manner, they can be fired individually and the union can be fined.”
‘So we will have to see what the law says.’
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