Brighton rail union strikes cause disruption in city

It was responding after people hoping to travel had their plans scuppered by today’s walkout.

Members of the RMT gathered outside Brighton Station this morning to take a stand over pay and the "removal of their workers’ rights".

The rail network has been paralysed all day, with only a skeleton service in place, while no trains were running past Hove.

Speaking on the picket line earlier today, RMT spokesman Malcolm Chisholm said the last thing union members wanted was to cause disruption to travellers, but this was the last resort.

A sign at today's protest

“The very basis of strike action is yes, it does inconvenience people,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s the only way strike action can ever be effective.

“We will always have sympathy for those workers who are impacted by the action, but we cannot allow our own jobs to be trashed just because we’re not prepared to inconvenience others.

“Many people here have years left in this industry, yet what they’re looking at is governments and rail companies rushing to the bottom and taking away their rights.

“It’s what they’ve successfully done in getting people on zero hour contracts.”

Today’s strikes follow days of union action earlier in the month, which drew heavy criticism from the government.

The RMT said there had been no pay offer made by rail companies but that it is open for talks to negotiate.

“Workers are out here today trying to hang on to a decent job,” said Malcolm.

Picketing at Brighton Station

“When people look at the salaries, they have to understand that they’re consolidated salaries.

“They don’t get paid extra money for working unsociable hours. They get out of bed at three in the morning, they can get home again at three in the morning when they finish a late shift, and they get no extra pay for that whatsoever.

“They don’t get paid extra for their bank holidays. They don’t get paid extra for their Sundays.

A sign at the station with details of strike action

“When people look at the salary of a rail worker, that’s not necessarily the same as looking at the salary of somebody else out there.

“They’ll be getting extra when they work late shifts, extra when they get out of bed early in the morning, extra for their Sundays. All these things are different.”

Services are expected to see some knock-on disruption tomorrow, with trains starting from 7am and running a Sunday service.