RMT Press Office

RMT pledges to fight Tory plan to ban strikes in the transport sector

TRANSPORT UNION RMT said today that it will fight tooth and nail plans from the incoming Tory Government to effectively outlaw strikes on the rail and tube networks.

It has been reported this morning that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is planning to include provisions in Thursday's Queen's Speech that would force workers to run services during industrial action.

General Secretary Mick Cash said:

"It hasn't taken long for the true colours of this new Tory Government to emerge. Banning strikes and denying workers the basic human right to withdraw their labour has been the hallmark of hard right, authoritarian regimes throughout history.

"Instead of attacking rail workers fighting to defend safety and disabled access any responsible Government would be tackling the scandal of private profiteering on Britain's railways which has reduced services to chaos.

"RMT will fight any plans to deny out members their basic human rights."