Why I Went On Strike

James Wong-McSweeney explains in The London Paper why he went on strike...

Having read the columns by Rachel Large and Kay Taylor, neither of whom supported the Tube strike, I thought you’d all like to hear from someone who did. I’m a member of the RMT and have been since I joined London Underground two-and-a-half years ago. You might think that the RMT is always on strike but we’re not – in fact, this was my first strike since I joined. I did it willingly and of my own free will. Nobody made me do it, let alone Bob Crow, whom I’ve never met.

Public leaflet: The truth about the Tube dispute

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download. Read the text below.

There has been a tidal wave of media coverage of the 48 hour strike on TfL and LUL. Although that coverage is a reflection of just how successful the RMT action has been, it has also led to some incredible exaggeration, blatant political interference and in some cases sheer, barefaced lies.

The “Big Lie”

Message from an RMT Member

Brothers and Sisters,

I was proud to stand with you on the picket lines across London over the past two days. Our demands were clear and concise and fair. Despite the misleading Tory press headlines and Boris's propaganda from outside the dispute and the constant stream of misinformation from LUL, we stood strong. As well as all this we had not only individuals but the leadership of another union breaking the strike.

A Personal Message from the General Secretary

I would like to congratulate members on the stand they have taken in supporting the strike action. You know it’s having a massive effect when the media take notice and start chasing their own tails.

On the one hand they are saying loads of trains are running but on the other we are inconveniencing 3 million commuters because they can’t get on the tube. The reality is LUL are running a skeleton service at best, and it is LUL that are inconveniencing the public as they pulled the deal that could have sorted this dispute out at the last moment.