“ALL means necessary” must be explored in opposing the government’s anti-strike Bill, RMT parliamentary group chairman Ian Mearns told union delegates in Bournemouth today.

The Labour MP lambasted the Conservative government over its minimum services legislation, which proposes to render effective strike action unlawful and severely undermine the ability of workers to win better pay and conditions industrially. 

He told the union’s AGM: “While Labour is committed to repeal the legislation, we cannot, of course, wait for that.

“Our group stands ready with you to explore all means necessary to continue to oppose this vicious attack on workers and their unions.

“We don’t only want Labour just to repeal this legislation: we need to keep our pledge to implement the ‘new deal for workers’ policy which will strength trade union and workers’ rights. 

“And I am glad to see Angela Rayner, as deputy leader of the Labour Party, has taken ownership of that and says she is taking it forward.”

Mr Mearns pointed out that the Labour leadership remained committed to public ownership of the railways.

And the MP for Gateshead said that the parliamentary group had been highlighting the government’s failures regarding the privatised bus industry.

He described “the monumental failure of the so-called national bus strategy, which is doing nothing to improve buses and has presided over cuts to routes and funding — completely failing to recognise the need for good terms and conditions for bus workers.”

Mr Mearns added that MPs had also pushed for amendments to the Seafarers’ Wages Bill in a bid to support RMT maritime members.