Two leading Labor MPs have opposed Sir Keir Starmer’s order not to join striking railway workers on the picket line in the network’s largest industrial operation in three decades.
This comes after a note leaked from the Labor leader’s office sparked outrage among unions, including Unite, whose secretary general warned the party last night: “You don’t lead by hiding.”
On Tuesday, members of the Railway, Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union (RMT) began a phased three-day departure after eleven-hour talks failed to resolve a heated dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
A note sent by Sir Cair’s office, seen by Politics Home, said previous bankers should “expect a major disruption this week as a result of industrial action” by RMT, with widespread cancellations throughout the week.
The Labor leadership reiterated its position that the party did not want the strike to continue, and also accused the government of not participating in any negotiations to resolve the issue.
However, he added: “We must also show leadership, and to that end, please remind the previous judges, including [parliamentary private secretaries] they must not be on picket lines.
“Please talk to all members of your team to remind them of this and confirm with me that you did.”
But Kate Osborne, a parliamentary aide to Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Kyle, joined the striking workers in Bromley, south-east London, saying: “I am a trade unionist, I will always stand by the workers.
In response to a leaked remark Monday night, she added: “Labor was created by the trade union movement to give workers a political voice.”
Navendu Mishra, an opposition whip, also posted a photo with striking workers on Tuesday morning, saying: “This insidious government has not funded and mismanaged our public transport network for more than a decade.
“As a proud trade unionist, I support all the workers on our railway network who are taking industrial action to fight for their jobs and to keep passengers safe.”
The Independent understands that the party’s main whip, Alan Campbell, will deal with issues related to any disciplinary action by those who oppose the order of the Labor leader’s office after the industrial action ended over the weekend.
Negotiations between RMT and Network Rail were still on Monday night, just hours before the first strike began, but the dispute remained stalemate, with all sides blaming each other for the lack of progress.
Sharon Graham, secretary general of Unite, has lashed out at Labor over reports of an expired note Monday night.
She said: “The Labor Party was founded by the unions and we expect Labor MPs to defend workers in word and deed. Instructing Labor MPs not to queue with workers speaks volumes.
“You do not lead by hiding. Nobody respects that. It’s time to decide whose side you’re on. Workers or bad bosses? “
Manuel Cortes, secretary general of the Transport Workers’ Association, said: “This is ridiculous nonsense from the party created by the unions. Solidarity is the goal of our movement. “
A number of non-front Labor MPs also posted on social media from the picket lines, including former shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who said he was “proud to join the RMT picket lines” in his election district.
Ian Lavery, a Wansbeck MP and former Labor chairman, joined a picket in Morpeth, Northumberland, tweeting, “Solidarity with the RMT union today and every day.”
A Labor spokesman said: “Unlike the government, our focus is on the public. The Tories are in the lead and have failed to fix it.
“The responsibility for the chaos this week lies with them. Boris Johnson and Grant Shaps must reverse their refusal to even meet with Network Rail and RMT to find an urgent solution.
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