
25 June 2022
RMT Press Office:
Poll shows nearly 3 quarters of public want rail workers to have cost of living wage rise
Independent polling released by the RMT today found strong support for rail workers to receive a fairer deal and for the government to intervene to address the rail workers concerns. A clear majority of the public also support the rail workers’ right to strike when negotiations fail.
In a blow to the rail companies and the government, the poll also revealed widespread opposition to plans to cut thousands of rail jobs and showed the public also clearly opposed to government policy of allowing profiteering from the rail industry.
The national poll of 2000 people carried out by Opinium found:
- Only 17% support cuts to staff on trains and stations and only 16% support the cutting of safety critical workers from inspecting and maintaining the rail tracks. Opposition to both of these measures is high at 63% and 70% respectively.
- 70% of the public believe that rail workers should have a negotiated pay rise that takes into account the cost of living, whilst just 11% disagree.
- 59% believe rail workers have the right to strike if negotiations fail and only 18% are against this.
- 62% believe that the government should intervene to ensure rail companies meet the rail workers’ concerns. Only 14% are against this
- 84% of the public believe the profits from the rail industry should be invested in protecting jobs and services, as opposed to the 16% who believe they should go towards shareholder dividends.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:
“This poll supports the evidence we’ve seen on picket lines this week. There is strong support for rail workers to receive a fairer deal and for the government to intervene to address rail workers concerns. A clear majority of the public also support rail workers’ right to strike.
“There is also massive public opposition to plans to cut thousands of track, train, and station jobs and to the government’s policy of allowing profiteering from the rail industry.
“It’s time the government listened to the public instead of picking political fights with rail workers.”
END
Notes: The poll was commissioned between 10-14 June.