SUPPORTERS of ongoing rail strikes by the RMT gathered in the city centre today for a demonstration of solidarity.

It comes as the third day of rail strikes has gone ahead as the RMT union has taken industrial action over a multi-year pay freeze and a lack of guarantee that there would be no compulsory redundancies across the network.

Those taking part in the rally gathered at the Buchanan Steps at 10am before marching down Buchanan Street to Central Station. 

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Representatives of GMB, Unite, EIS, EIS-FELA, CWU, Unison and the Glasgow Trades Council were among those who took part, as well as SNP MPs Chris Stephens and David Linden. 

Demonstrators held signs that read "solidarity with the strike", "Glasgow backs the rail workers" and "support the rail workers strike".

Speaking to The National ahead of the demonstration, activist and writer Jonathon Shafi, who was one of the organisers, said: "A victory for the RMT will be a victory for all workers.

"As the cost-of-living crisis takes hold, the trade union movement is indispensable to the whole working-class, which yet again are asked to pay the price after a decade of austerity. 

"The Tories are all over the place at the present moment, and people have had enough.

"Why is it that the super-rich have got richer during the pandemic, while the workers that kept society going in the last few years are cutting back on essentials?

"Meanwhile, fat cat bosses take home exorbitant bonuses.

"This gathering is a chance for everyone who supports the rail strikes and everyone who wants to see some justice done to come together to say that Glasgow is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the RMT. 

"They have already lifted the mood of millions of people who understand that taking strike action is the way to win.

"But that also means there must be popular expressions of solidarity, and that’s what we want to show."

Glasgow Times: MPs Chris Stephens and David LindenMPs Chris Stephens and David Linden

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