Wages, Prices, Strikes and Disputes: Bridgwater MP Calls Rail Staff "Lazy and Incompetent" But Bridgwater Unions Say "Save Ticket Offices!"

 

Ian Liddell-Grainger Tory MP for
Bridgwater and West Somerset
(Photo: UK Parliament)

 

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We were formed to stand up for residents. And we hold councillors and MPs to account.

As we have reported, a whole host of workers are going on strike, in a wage-price spiral of inflation where inflation feeds on itself. Union leaders from the RMT (Mick Lynch) and Unite unions (Sharon Graham) have denied that their actions to gain above inflation pay increases, will lead to higher prices. They blame rail bosses and the Tory Government. Ms Graham said:

"I will not apologise for demanding and winning fair pay rises for my members".

The Tory Government, which seems unable to deal with inflation and the rising cost of living, is in dispute with rail unions.

Bridgwater Tory MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has attacked staff at Taunton Railway Station, in a speech in the House of Commons. He said:

"Another issue of confidence, on which we need an urgent debate, has come to my attention: Taunton station. 

The staff there are utterly lazy and incompetent. 

Those who are young, vulnerable, disabled or need help cannot get from one side of the station to the other, because passengers have to walk around a main road and up a ramp, taking all their suitcases with them; it makes Gatwick and Heathrow look positively balmy. It is beyond belief! 

Great Western Railway says it is inclusive and stands up for its customers—well, Taunton does not. Can we please have a debate on the issue before somebody gets injured or, worse, killed?"

At the same time, trade unions in the Bridgwater area are launching a campaign to "Save Somerset's Rail Station Ticket Offices".

Dave Chapple, Secretary of the Bridgwater and District Trades Union Council, told us:

"Rail union, RMT has launched a campaign to resist closure of 1000 rail station ticket offices across Britain, with the loss of thousands of jobs. Rail bosses will carry out a “consultation” in August, but it is clear that the plans are to start closures in October. It is clear that, without opposition from workers and the public, ALL rail stations in Somerset, and indeed the west country, will lose their ticket offices!

All passengers, especially disabled and elderly, and those with little experience of train travel, need on-station support and information. Without that support, many will be excluded from rail travel entirely.

This is all part of the wider, ongoing attack on jobs, pay and conditions in the privatised rail industry, which the RMT is fighting so bravely and with so much support. Train drivers’ union ASLEF is also taking widespread national strike action on 30th July. We support the rail unions on all fronts, and encourage everyone to get involved:

•    join a picket line near you on 30th July (ASLEF) and 18th and 20th August (RMT)

•    you can sign the petition to save ticket offices

•    write to your MP telling him to oppose the closures"

Meanwhile, a Labour MP has been fired for doing exactly what the unions are asking above - joining a picket line. The Labour Party removed Sam Tarry from his junior Shadow Minister post, saying that he must have "collective responsibility" and stick to the collective responsibility and agreed media lines. Unions have criticised the Labour Party. Ms Graham called Tarry's sacking an "insult to the trade union movement".

Somerset Independents has contacted Somerset Labour, Somerset Lib Dems and Somerset Tory MPs for comment on the rail strike. None of them have responded.

Have you written to your MP?

Did you get a response? We ask because residents regularly complain to us that the Somerset Tory MPs do not respond.

What do you think of the unions?

Tell us what you think.

 

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.