ALBA Supports Strike Action by Rail Workers

Speaking today (Tuesday) in support of the RMT and their members who are taking industrial action to protect their pay and conditions ALBA Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP said:

“ALBA stands full square behind the RMT and its members.  I was proud and honoured to stand with the rail workers yesterday at the demonstration outside the UK Government offices in Edinburgh.

“It is in the interests of everyone who uses our rail services that we stand up for the workers who are essential to its running and its operation.

“But let’s be clear nobody wants to go on strike.  It is forced upon workers when they’ve got no alternative. The pay offer is derisory, the attack upon terms and conditions of employment are unacceptable and the negotiations that have taken place have been nothing short of farcical.

“I say to the RMT.  Your fight is our fight.  It is not just that the rich are getting richer and that fat cat bosses continue to pocket eye-watering salaries and bonuses. The fact is inflation is running at 11%.  People getting 5% aren’t even keeping pace with the cost of living.  People are not going to be able to heat their homes and are already struggling to feed their bairns.

“This is about solidarity with those in the front line.  This action is essential to our public services and essential for our society.  We cannot have a society where the rich get richer and the poor are left to go to the dogs.

“So despite the inconvenience to the public, the fact is that this action is unavoidable.  It is about protecting rail workers and their families from an effective pay cut, it is about opposing compulsory redundancies and it is about ensuring safety in our railways.  For all of these reasons ALBA is on the side of the RMT and the workers in this dispute.”