RMT strike date moved to accommodate London Poppy Appeal

An RMT strike has been re-arranged to avoid a clash with the Royal British Legion’s London Poppy Day appeal.

As November approaches, thoughts turn to the Royal British Legion’s famous poppy appeal, which pays tribute to those who have served, and lost their lives, at war.

Every year a huge Poppy Appeal is held in London and aims to raise £1 million in a single day to help the Royal British Legion support ex-service personnel and their families. Over 2,000 fundraisers will be helping hit the huge target.

The London appeal is due to take place on 3 November this year, which coincided with a date that RMT members were due to hold a strike. Negotiations have taken place to re-arrange the strike action, to avoid the event clashing with the famous charity fundraiser. RMT members will now strike on 5, 7 and 9 November instead.

A spokesperson from the Royal British Legion, said: “We are very grateful to the RMT union for cancelling its strike action on 3 November.

“We recognise and respect the right of all unions to take action for their members, and it was unfortunate on this occasion it would have had such a serious impact on our fundraising.”

Similar action was taken by the RMT in 2016, when planned strike action clashed with the same event.

The RMT stress that the dispute that has led to the industrial action remains very much live, and that the union will continue until they have reached a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and working conditions.

 RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our focus in this dispute is the rail employers who have yet to make an offer that will create the conditions for a negotiated settlement.

 “I call upon the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to unshackle the rail industry so they can come to a settlement with RMT.”

Image credit: Network Rail

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