Rail Strikes Go Ahead.

The RMT union led by Mick Lynch is conducting a series of strikes this week. Better pay and conditions are the reason why any worker strikes. The rail workers as they strike will have a detrimental effect on commuters.

Commuters themselves have had a mixed reaction to the strike. Some are angry as the strikes have disrupted their efforts to get to work by train. Others while finding it irritating broadly support the striking workers. While many workers are able to work at home and have no travel worries. Railway stations and even the London tube network have all come to a standstill.

The workers want better pay but whether they will get it is another thing. Negotiations continue with rail companies over this. The government seems to be keeping out of the dispute so far. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has remained aloof and largely quiet about the dispute. Boris Johnson sitting at a cabinet meeting has told commuters to "stay the course". People who rely on the train will be using alternative transport. This may cause chaos too, however, at the moment things do not appear to be that bad.

Iain Duncan Smith former Department of Work and Pensions Secretary described the strikers as trouble makers. Mr. Duncan Smith now a Conservative backbench MP said the strikers are "hardcore socialists". The former David Cameron MP said the strikers wish to break the government.

Sir Keir Starmer said he understands why the RMT union and its members are striking. However, at the same time, he has forbidden front bench MPs from joining picket lines. Many Labour MPs have defied Sir Keir, however, and done just that. Deputy leader Angela Rayner has openly said she supports the right of rail workers to strike. Ms. Rayner said the following: "No one strikes lightly". I will always defend their absolute right to do so for fairness at work".

Other Labour MPs like Richard Burgon and Ian Lavery Tweeted pictures of themselves supporting strikers. Diane Abbott also tweeted pictures of herself on a picket line. Jeremy Corbyn said that if Sir Keir takes disciplinary action against strike-supporting MPs there would be trouble. A former advisor to Sir Keir said that if he sacks front bench MPs there would be "an explosion".

Sir Keir for sure is walking a deadly tightrope. Keeping the party on his side, supporting the right of rail workers to strike, not alienating commuters, etc. Sir Keir also needs to watch that the message of the government doesn't catch on. The government is trying to use the strike as a way of demonising the Labour party.

However, for the government to blame the Labour party is pretty rich. Pretty rich when the Labour party has not seen power since 2010. Over those twelve years, we have had Cameron, May, and now Johnson presiding over the UK. If there's a mess then it is the Conservative government alone that is responsible.

It seems other unions watching rail strikes unfold are getting bold. Royal Mail unions are going to ballot their members for strike action. NHS, hospitality workers, etc, could also do the same thing. If multiple employees from various industries strike it will be a summer of chaos. Some have likened the situation to the late 70s when workers back then chose to strike. It brought the country back then to a halt. Even undertakers and rubbish removal workers took part. It was called the 'Winter of Discontent' and so this could be the 'Summer of Discontent'.

Margaret Thatcher having defeated the 1984 miners' strike brought in legislation to control strike action. Unions that had such power in the 1970s found themselves much reduced in power. This rail strike is the first such action in 30 years. Union bosses back in the 70s and 80s perhaps were too big for their boots and needed some government action. At the same time unions were founded to protect workers in multiple roles. So that employers could not exploit them while paying them peanuts.