RAIL workers today called for “every partisan of the working class” to fight “side by side” with them against the government’s new anti-strike laws.

Scores of RMT union members staged an angry demonstration outside of the Commons today as Parliament met for the Queen’s Speech.

In the address, which lays out Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s agenda for government, there are passages that will make railway strikes illegal unless a “minimum service provision” is in place.

Earlier in the month, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that he wished to establish a “basic right” to commute for workers whose work routes may be disrupted by rail strikes.

The move has led to significant outcry from trade unionists, who have voiced their concerns over passenger safety, overcrowding and the political liberty of railway workers.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “They’ve thrown down the gauntlet and we’ve picked it up. We’re going to fight this. We’re going to fight because this is an attack on all workers and on all our rights”

RMT senior assistant general secretary Steve Hedley added: “This is an affront to our rights and dignity.

“What about the fundamental right of anybody to withdraw their labour?

“If you don’t have that right, you are in a state of slavery — this is the line that not just our rail unions must be putting out, but every trade union.

“We can’t be isolated like the miners were. Every partisan of the working class must be fighting side by side with us.

“This law will be smashed by industrial action.”

The workers were joined by the Socialist Campaign Group, the group of left-wing Labour MPs in Parliament, who had held their first meeting since the December 12 general election.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the attempt of the government to curtail strike action was “an attack on trade union rights that we have not seen on this scale for over a century.

“This is a line in the sand that they want to force us over.”

Mr McDonnell said that despite Thursday’s defeat, “the role of the Labour MP is on the picket line” and pledged that Labour in opposition will be “exposing what the Tories are doing to our communities — what they’re doing to our basic human rights.”

A striking South Western Railway worker also addressed demonstrators with the simple message: “Thank you for the solidarity and this turnout. I love you all.”