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Labour Party leaders have been repeating Keir Starmer’s claim that they have changed Labour “from a party of protest to a party of public service”. “Party of government” is another favourite. They want to be, not representatives of the working class, the class which protests against exploitation and lack of social provision, but alternative managers of the private-profit capitalist system.
The New Year has not stopped old strikes. From today, the Aslef union representing train drivers is staging a rolling series of strikes between now and February 5, with a nine-day ban on overtime. Sixteen train operators will be affected, with most facing a single day of total shut-down. Because these will vary across the country, they will result in maximum disruption to travellers with a minimum of loss to the strikers.
Fresh walkouts are planned for January and February as the dispute enters its third calendar year.
A Conservative MP says legislation for minimum service levels during strikes should be introduced.
None of the issues which led to the strike vote have been resolved. This includes pay freezes for those near the top pay band, the axing of travel allowances for London Underground staff, and above all the gutting of tube workers’ pensions.