As part of the UKUncut day of action on Saturday 26 May, activists from the Anti Cuts Network in Newcastle linked up with RMT activists to organise a "Party on the Metro" in support of contract cleaners.
The cleaners earn minimum wage without sick pay, pensions or the normal free travel passes unlike other Metro workers.
While Churchill's profits rose 80%, our protest showed we're not all in it together, by standing with these newly organised RMT members who last week voted 100% yes to action.
On the day about 70 activists (both old and new) turned up. The police and Metro staff (now employed by DB Regio after the Metro was outsourced last year) turned up in force, to enforce the by-laws which include 'apparently' not singing or playing instruments, no talking loudly (well especially if it in support of the cleaners as that's a nuisance apparently). After threatening to arrest the RMT regional organiser Craig Johnston and then me for talking and trying to give out leaflets (also against the by-laws) a cat and mouse game ensued with police. We'd planned to divide into groups and jump on and off metros. This clearly rattled the police, who couldn't keep us all in one place. Fearful that we might upset passengers by playing guitars, singing and petitioning the police spent an hour or two chasing the protestors around the metro system, some of us heading up the coast in one direction, some another, a third group heading to Gateshead and central station.
All the protestors had a great day, we gave out balloons and sweets (as it was a party) as well as leaflets, all the passengers were very supportive and lots of letters to Churchill were signed.
Both the RMT members and those activist from ACN recognised the opportunities of bringing together direction action with workers organising strike action. There is another protest outside a meeting of the transport authority AGM on Thursday 31st May at 9 a.m. We're urging all activists, trade unionists and others to turn up and oppose poverty pay, and profiteers making money off it. Strike action of all workers on the metro will be announced in the next week with hopefully a rolling programme of action to close the Metro down. And more direct action will be discussed.
