THROUGHOUT the cost-of-living crisis, we have seen a resurgence in a desire to fight back and to stand in solidarity with fellow trade unionists across all sections of the British labour movement.
We can see this from the action undertaken by the CWU and RMT, which paved the way for “the summer of solidarity,” to the historic action set to be undertaken by the Royal College of Nursing alongside fellow NHS trade unions, to education unions campaigning together for students and staff.
However, despite overwhelming public support for the unions undertaking strike action throughout the summer, and clear support from Labour MPs, members of the Senedd, members of the Scottish Parliament and countless Labour councillors across Britain, we saw Keir Starmer and his office complete the cynical removal of Sam Tarry from the shadow front bench due allegedly to “breaking collective responsibility” by stating, rightly, that RMT and TSSA members should not take what amounts to a real-terms wage cut through a below-inflation pay offer while on the picket line at Euston station this summer.