‘People are struggling’: Voices from the rail strike

From train dispatchers to catering hosts, thousands of rail staff are striking over a dispute about pensions, salaries and redundancies in the UK’s most widespread industrial action in decades.

At Bristol Temple Meads, workers from Great Western Rail (GWR) and Cross County lined the streets in protest on the second day of strikes.

Some called for pay increases and better working conditions, whilst others said they fear for the future of their jobs and the safety of passengers.

Union leaders have said strike action is a last resort but Network Rail bosses have expressed disappointment that what they call the “needless and premature strikes” continue.

Here, we heard from people on the picket line on why they chose to demonstrate.

Testa has been a lead host in catering on board for the past five years

“My reason for striking is for everybody else not to be. I’m doing this for other people,” Amanda Testa, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Bristol branch secretary, told Bristol24/7.

“I’m doing this to encourage working-class people to stand up and ask for profit that they should be entitled to because they are the labour that creates the profit.

“For that reason, they deserve a fair share, but we’re not asking for all of it – rather than it would be a bit top-heavy and the majority of profit going to those who already have enough.”

Bailey wants to safeguard jobs and ensure the safety of passengers

Train manager and guard Ian Bailey was concerned about the future of his job and passenger safety.

He commented: “My main reason for striking is job security – if we don’t act now, we are going to lose our jobs, or at least have them massively downgraded and deskilled.

“It’s about the safety of passengers as well. I have been a guard for 21 years now and safety does matter to us but it’s being slowly eroded.

Bailey added: “I haven’t had a pay rise for three years, which is a factor. I genuinely need the money now to cover the cost of living.

“We have to watch what we buy in the shops – it’s getting tough. With the rising electricity bills, it has really reflected on what we spend money on and on the children.”

Lily supports the RMT rails strikes

Others picketed on Temple Gate to show solidarity with the union.

“I’m here today in support of all of the workers who are on the picket line. The reason for me is that these issues are representative of workers everywhere, who are working for companies which make a lot of profit, but are not investing in our staff,” said Rachel Lily, who works for a research and design charity for children.

She added: “We’re seeing lots of job cuts, which obviously has huge risks to safety for people on trains. That is a risk that runs deeper than just the train service – it’s a pattern.

“We need to ensure that people are not only respected and paid fairly but also that we understand the wider context which is about the safety of travelling.”

Singh lives in Easton

Roud Singh, who is striking, works in customer service on board.

He said: “We have never had a raise in three years. We are worried that if we don’t strike now, they will start cutting our jobs so we are here to support our colleagues and keep our jobs. The cost of living has gone up and we can’t live on a basic wage at the moment.

“I love my job. I have been there for nine years and I want to stay there.”

Hardy is from Acorn, a community trade union

John Hardy, from Acorn, joined the picket line to stand with RMT members.

“The stuff the RMT are fighting for are things people are struggling with all across the country. – the cost of living crisis, energy bills, prices rising in shops. People are struggling. We need unions and the collective power of working people to fight to make sure there’s a better deal for the future,” said Hardy.

He continued: “There’s a real sense this is hopefully the start of something that’s really going to help people in the future”

Scenes from the picket line at Temple Meads today. #RMTstrikes pic.twitter.com/AuPG84G3rv

— Betty Woolerton (@bettywoolerton) June 23, 2022

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that the RMT have again chosen to walk away from negotiations without agreeing a deal. We remain available for talks – day or night – and will do everything we can to avoid further disruption for our passengers.

“As a result of this needless and premature strike, rail services will look much like they did on Tuesday – starting later in the morning and finishing much earlier in the evening (around 6.30pm). We are asking passengers to please check before you travel, be conscious of when your last available train is departing, and only travel by train if necessary.”

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We recognise that this week has been difficult for those who need to travel. We’ve been doing our best to provide scheduled services on key routes, which is hopefully making a difference.”

For travel updates, visit: www.gwr.com/strike

All photos: Betty Woolerton

Read more: The Bristol rail services set to be crippled by rail strikes

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