“The earnings of the highest FTSE firms have gone up 73% since 2019. When are we going to ask in the event that they’re grasping?”
The RMT’s senior assistant normal secretary Eddie Dempsey has been praised for the way by which he’s taken on the company media, not solely informing the general public but additionally taking aside the misconceptions and myths being peddled in opposition to the strikes and the RMT.
Showing on the Jeremy Vine present this week, Dempsey had the proper response for these accusing commerce unions of being grasping. He stated: “It’s a little bit of a cheek having a programme asking commerce unions in the event that they’re being grasping for asking for a pay rise.
“The earnings of the highest FTSE firms have gone up 73% since 2019. When are we going to ask in the event that they’re grasping? What concerning the railway firms which have been ripping off this nation for years. Nobody asks about their earnings or whether or not they’re being grasping.”
Requested concerning the inconveniences the strikes will trigger to individuals, Dempsey replied: “Individuals will discover it arduous on a strike day however individuals will discover it arduous when it’s not a strike day as a result of there’s individuals on this nation spending 18% of their incomes touring on trains. We’ve bought the very best fares in Europe as a result of profiteers have been robbing this nation blind for years.
“On the identical time, afterward on this 12 months, vitality costs are going to be so excessive a few of my individuals might be spending two full months of take dwelling pay on vitality and also you’re telling us that we’re grasping for anticipating staff to maintain up with that.”
Dempsey additionally advised Channel 4: “Most people know they’re being mugged. Income are via the roof, company pay is obscene and the one ones being requested to tighten their belts are working class individuals.”
His media appearances led to reward on-line, with one Twitter person writing: “The UK main broadcasters @BBCNews @SkyNews @itvnews won’t like Mick Lynch being on our screens anymore, however the @RMTunion come up trumps once more with straight speaking, cool as cucumber Eddie Dempsey telling it like it’s …”
One other person wrote: “Eddie Dempsey and Mick Lynch @RMTunion have achieved such a incredible job informing the general public, and decimating people who come up in opposition to them doing media rounds. It’s because the factors they’re making are irrefutable info.
“Runaway firm earnings are the issue, not wages.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Ahead
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