Protesters demand action from government to tackle cost-of-living crisis
As the cost of living soars, RMT members were joined by thousands of public sector workers to protest in London, ITV News' Neil Connery reports
Protesters have gathered in London calling on the government to do more to tackle the cost of living crisis amid "harrowing" evidence of the impact of soaring inflation on families.
Trade union leaders, frontline workers and community organisations joined the demonstration in London, demanding a "better deal" for workers struggling to cope.
Banners reading “cut war not welfare” and “end fuel poverty, insulate homes now” were on display.
The TUC, which organised the event, said workers were suffering the "longest and harshest" squeeze on their earnings in modern history.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £15 million package of support to help tackle the rising cost of living - but critics say more needs to be done.
A Department of Transport press officer said: “the government offered negotiations with the RMT today” to stop the rail strike but was “disappointed that Mick Lynch rejected these in order to attend the TUC protest instead”
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know...
Research by the TUC suggested that workers have lost almost £20,000 since 2008 because pay has not kept pace with inflation.
The TUC said it was the biggest "real wage" loss since the 1830, adding that the pay "slump" showed little sign of slowing.
General secretary Frances O’Grady said it was "gut-wrenching" to hear how workers were struggling, with no safety net to fall back on.
Ms O'Grady said she had heard a harrowing story of children keeping back part of their school lunch to take home for their evening dinner.
"Prices are sky-rocketing, yet boardroom bonuses are back to bumper levels. Everyone who works for a living deserves to earn a decent living, but UK workers are suffering the longest and harshest squeeze on their earnings in modern history.
"If we don’t get pay rising across the economy, we will just keep lurching from crisis to crisis.
"This cost-of-living emergency has not come out of the blue. It is the result of more than a decade of standstill wages."
Ms O’Grady accused the Prime Minister of "cynically abandoning" his commitment to a high-wage economy.
"He and other ministers are treating workers like Oliver Twist by telling them not to dare ask for a decent pay rise. The last thing we need right now is for wages to be held down.
"We cannot be a country where nurses have to use foodbanks to get by."