Mick Lynch was pressed in a TalkTV interview about whether striking over Eurovision weekend somehow undermined the UK's support for Ukraine, as broadcasters pick up on, and uncritically recycle, a Tory attack line first used by rail minister Mark Harper.
Lynch said: “We regard the invasion of Ukraine as an illegal invasion by a tyrannical government; we think Russia should withdraw. We’re in solidarity with Ukrainian railway workers, and the Ukrainian people.”
(See the footage here.)
Lynch is absolutely right. Now we need to ensure that we express our solidarity with Ukrainian railway workers, and the Ukrainian people more widely, in deeds, not just words. Train drivers' union Aslef is affiliated to the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, and has been involved in delegations and fundraising drives to support Ukrainian rail workers. Their record of practical solidarity with Ukraine allowed them to easily rebuff Mark Harper's ludicrous slanders. We need to spread those solidarity efforts across other rail unions.
The issue is politically contested, especially in RMT, where those from a Stalinist political background would undoubtedly like to see Lynch, and the union in general, take a more neutral, or even pro-Russian, stance. In 2014, supporters of the Communist Party of Britain/Morning Star in RMT won the union to a policy of support for the Russian-nationalist uprising in eastern Ukraine, which Putin's state sponsored and backed up, which was hailed by RMT CPers as a movement of "anti-fascist resistance". They have not felt confident to promote that policy since the 2022 invasion, but that is undoubtedly still their view.
The policy on Ukraine passed by the RMT NEC in February 2022 was a simple statement of opposition to the invasion and call for Russian withdrawal. That's as good a starting point as any; now Lynch has reaffirmed RMT's solidarity with Ukraine, let's get to work giving practical support to our brothers and sisters there.