Mick Cash to speak at May Day rally

RMT'S Mick Cash to tell May Day rally it's no longer a question of if our railways are renationalised, it's a question of when.

In a May Day message today RMT General Secretary Mick Cash says that the tide in favour of public ownership of our railways and our public services has now shifted irreversibly and that it is only a matter of time before the exploitation and greed of privatisation is swept away.

Mick Cash, who will be speaking at the May Day rally at Trafalgar Square in London today, said:

“Today we send May Day greetings and solidarity to our comrades around the world who are fighting for the basic principles of economic and social justice.

“I also want to pay tribute to RMT members who, for over two years now, have been battling to put public safety before private greed on our railways. They are a credit to the entire trade union movement.

“From the railways, to the buses, to the maritime industry, taxis, road freight and the offshore sector RMT members are leading the way as we mobilise to turn the tide on austerity, exploitation, cutbacks and the relentless attacks on jobs, pay and working conditions.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that public opinion has now shifted irreversibly in favour of the core objectives mapped out by the trade unions and with this rotten, dysfunctional Tory Government lurching from crisis to crisis it is no longer a matter of if our railways are brought back into public ownership, it is a matter of when.

“The private train companies seeking to throw the guards off our railways should wise up and take notice and those in the maritime sector bending the rules to maintain a system of low pay on the ships of shame should also start to face up to some realities. We are on the march today and we will not rest until the discredited transport, workplace and economic policies that have caused so much damage to this country are consigned to the dustbin of history.”

> RMT National News

Wednesday, 8th May
Rail and ferries union, RMT has called on SNP first minister John Swinney to solve outstanding issues around Scotrail and the future of CalMac.
Tuesday, 7th May
Maritime union, RMT today condemned P&O head Peter Hebblethwaite over his Parliamentary Committee performance where he admitted staff were paid under £5 an hour.
Friday, 3rd May
RMT members on Scotrail will take strike action over the role of the guard on services along the Barrhead and East Kilbride routes.
Friday, 3rd May
Seafarers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will take strike action on May 19 in a row over pay.
Wednesday, 1st May
Reacting to media reports that suggest there could be attempts to water down the New Deal for workers to ease business concerns, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: