Strike!

[Smokeandsteam]

Yeah, perils of a volunteer/user-generated map innit - if someone from the RMT in that region has put the details in they'll be

True. I mentioned this to the pickets at New Street this morning. They were unaware of the map thing and said it would be something their regional office would do. Anyway, we know where and when the pickets are now and we’ve exchanged numbers and are going to try to get more Unite stewards down for the next 2 dates.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

 

[thismoment]

I don't think the strikes are on tomorrow, pretty sure Thursday and Saturday are the other strike days. Or do you mean less?

No strikes tomorrow , but there will be disruption, caused by trains/tubes not being where they are supposed to be .

I don’t think that they are strikes tomorrow but just looked at my journey for tomorrow and it’ll be just as bad as this morning (buses stuck in traffic and still late despite setting off to work earlier than usual) because the train and tube I need to get only start running from 7.30am (train) and 8pm (tube)

 

[The39thStep]

The RMT Twitter feed has been brilliant but I tell you what I don't think I've seen anyone punch like Mick Lynch when interviewed , he took Richard Madely ( doing a very good imitation of Alan Partridge) out in one minute , disposed of Kate Burley, hammered Jonathan Gullis(Tory MP) and humiliated some junior minister called Chris Philip

 

[Smokeandsteam]

but I tell you what I don't think I've seen anyone punch like Mick Lynch when interviewed

Spot on. He’s been excellent. Plain speaking, no bullshit, no posturing, no performative bollocks and no taking crap from middle class liberals or neo-liberal cheerleaders in the media. Consistently widening out the dispute in the media to the condition of the working class elsewhere and encouraging others to stand up and have a go

 

[Doctor Carrot]

UK Gas and Electricity Crisis Looming

It's good to see the likes of shell announcing record profits at a time like this The neoliberal transfer of wealth from earned to unearned income before our eyes.

www.urban75.net

One person making one post on one thread who further clarified their point a few posts later but yeah, Urban's just crawling with centrists who hate the plebs and their higher wage demands.

 

[spitfire]

The RMT Twitter feed has been brilliant but I tell you what I don't think I've seen anyone punch like Mick Lynch when interviewed , he took Richard Madely ( doing a very good imitation of Alan Partridge) out in one minute , disposed of Kate Burley, hammered Jonathan Gullis(Tory MP) and humiliated some junior minister called Chris Philip

This one was good as well.

He's some flower!

 

[steeplejack]

I think they were expecting a princpled, dignified but awkward public performer such as the late Jimmy Knapp.

Instead Mick Lynch has absolutely been on fire today. Been a delight to watch.

 

[steveseagull]

 

[MickiQ]

Jesus Christ
What the fuck are orphans doing travelling alone anyway? This is the 2020's not the 1930's
And adding an after thought 9/11 was 21 years ago any one orphaned by it would in their 20's at least by now

 

[David Clapson]

I wore my RMT badge with pride today. Nobody noticed.

 

[tim]

I enjoyed this fun little compilation. I wouldn't want to be on a train driven by someone as hopeless as Madely or Burley.

 

[steeplejack]

Let alone Jonathan Gullis, the wanker ticket inspector who always looks visibly disappointed when your ticket is valid and he can’t issue a fine

 

[Doctor Carrot]

I enjoyed this fun little compilation. I wouldn't want to be on a train driven by someone as hopeless as Madely or Burley.

He's fucking brilliant! I love how he just calmly reels off the facts and how he handles really absurd lines of questioning.

That compilation is a good education on how to deal with a hostile media and on how pathetic the media is. Not to mention politicians too. The way he repeatedly informs that tory twat that he's a liar is absolutely priceless

 

[David Clapson]

Starmer's silence about the rich/poor divide is deafening. Useless, good for nothing waste of space.

 

[bellaozzydog]

I’m a member of RMT offshore and would happily pay double subs just to see Mick Lynch do the rounds again tomorrow

It’s like watching early Mike Tyson fights.

 

[David Clapson]

I'm not RMT member, never have been, but I bought badges in all sorts of colours a few years back. (Am a former member of TGWU and NUJ)

 

[David Clapson]

He's fucking brilliant! I love how he just calmly reels off the facts and how he handles really absurd lines of questioning.

That compilation is a good education on how to deal with a hostile media and on how pathetic the media is. Not to mention politicians too. The way he repeatedly informs that tory twat that he's a liar is absolutely priceless

If only Corbyn had been given media training by Lynch. And had been sensible and composed enough to use the training well. If only Corbyn had been...someone else.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

If only Corbyn had been given media training by Lynch. And had been sensible and composed enough to use the training well. If only Corbyn had been...someone else.

The thing is I don’t think you can ‘train’ someone to speak with that type of authenticity and clarity which derives from a specific class experience.

Despite being, fundamentally, a trade union top, Lynch has been unbelievable impressive in every interview so far. He’s able to summarise the dispute, the economy and the situation of the working class succinctly, clearly and convincingly. I genuinely think his way of communicating cuts through. I also think the return to the stage of authentic working class politics Is long overdue but also a reminder of just how much has been lost - for a variety of reasons.

Anyway, here’s our man superbly deflating the entire government and media narrative on rising prices and inflation in under 1 minute. Astonishingly good…

 

[Lord Camomile]

He's fucking brilliant! I love how he just calmly reels off the facts and how he handles really absurd lines of questioning.

That compilation is a good education on how to deal with a hostile media and on how pathetic the media is. Not to mention politicians too. The way he repeatedly informs that tory twat that he's a liar is absolutely priceless

Aye, if you can avoid getting drawn into a barney and have the facts on your side, it can be relatively simple to dismantle your general blow hard who isn't used to that sort of thing.

Which is not to downplay Lynch's work, it's still not that easy either way!

Weird we don't see more of it from politicians, eh..?

 

[Lord Camomile]

Meanwhile, trains in London (or at least my part of it) didn't start running until around 07:30, and disruptions still expected throughout the day (finally dawning on me why the called strikes one day on, one day off... ).

It's certainly bloody annoying, but not a huge sacrifice for the greater good (while appreciating it is a far bigger problem/sacrifice for those in other situations).

 

[flypanam]

My colleagues can’t get in. So I’m lone working (which isn’t too bad) but I’ve managed to get some RMT posters up in the library.

 

[The39thStep]

The thing is I don’t think you can ‘train’ someone to speak with that type of authenticity and clarity which derives from a specific class experience.

Despite being, fundamentally, a trade union top, Lynch has been unbelievable impressive in every interview so far. He’s able to summarise the dispute, the economy and the situation of the working class succinctly, clearly and convincingly. I genuinely think his way of communicating cuts through. I also think the return to the stage of authentic working class politics Is long overdue but also a reminder of just how much has been lost - for a variety of reasons.

Anyway, here’s our man superbly deflating the entire government and media narrative on rising prices and inflation in under 1 minute. Astonishingly good…

The other thing that has struck me is that the main reason that his narrative is so refreshingly authentic and convincing is that it's actually the narrative of a cast of thousands of working class people taking effective industrial action rather than some talking head lefty trying to convince or complain on a chat show.

 

[steeplejack]

The other thing that has struck me is that the main reason that his narrative is so refreshingly authentic and convincing is that it's actually the narrative of a cast of thousands of working class people taking effective industrial action rather than some talking head lefty trying to convince or complain on a chat show.

"Next up, Owen Jones on the cost of living crisis...."

Almost as though the working class are returning to our screens for the first time in authentic voice rather than as a forelock-tugging minor role in a period drama; or talked over by an Oxbridge educated media type who arrogates to themselves an understanding of working class life.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

"Next up, Owen Jones on the cost of living crisis...."

Almost as though the working class are returning to our screens for the first time in authentic voice rather than as a forelock-tugging minor role in a period drama; or talked over by an Oxbridge educated media type who arrogates to themselves an understanding of working class life.

You think OJ is the 'authentic voice of the working class'? Jeezus christ.

Edit : I really do need to not so hastily post stuff before I've properly woken up in the morning.

 

[ska invita]

You think OJ is the 'authentic voice of the working class'? Jeezus christ.

you've 100% wrongly misread the post

 

[Smokeandsteam]

"Next up, Owen Jones on the cost of living crisis...."

Almost as though the working class are returning to our screens for the first time in authentic voice rather than as a forelock-tugging minor role in a period drama; or talked over by an Oxbridge educated media type who arrogates to themselves an understanding of working class life.

The other thing that has struck me is that the main reason that his narrative is so refreshingly authentic and convincing is that it's actually the narrative of a cast of thousands of working class people taking effective industrial action rather than some talking head lefty trying to convince or complain on a chat show.

Agreed on both points.

As well as being an apparently naturally gifted communicator, Lynch is the talking head for a specific and serious, organsied, industrial working class trade union politics. The Tories have inadvertently - in trying to create a 'wedge' issue - created a space for its partial reemergence in the public consciousness. I do wonder if some of their less stupid thinkers wonder if they might have bitten off more than they expected (although, I also think their strategy of isolating and dealing with the most militant and best organised sections of the trade unions makes some sense from their perspective. But, of course, they do need to win or all bets are off).

On working class voices on the tele, I do think Lynch cut through. a mate messaged me last night to say that twitter wankers and other narrating class 'leaders of the left' like Jones will be busy deleting 'class reductionism' from their posting history and ordering Mick Lynch T shirts. I see their point but I'm not sure that's entirely the case; most of them have gone well beyond the point of no return in abandoning class politics (if they ever professed to have any) and writing off/dismissing sections of the working class.

 

[LDC]

You think OJ is the 'authentic voice of the working class'? Jeezus christ.

Nobody is the authentic 'voice of the working class' though, not even Lynch. The struggle for 'authenticity' is just some media/shit politics created fantasy load of bollocks.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

You think OJ is the 'authentic voice of the working class'? Jeezus christ.

Err, I don't think Steeple does....he was being 'ironic'...

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Err, I don't think Steeple does....he was being 'ironic'...

Well thats a relief.