RMT leader Mick Lynch has been schooling the media again. This time as part of an interview where he took on three journalists at once. It has to be said, though, these journalists were rather more measured than the likes of Kay Burley and Piers Morgan, who Lynch trounced on TV during the last round of strikes.
Lynch took the opportunity to talk about taxations, being stalked by Britain’s gutter press, and more besides. Once again Lynch gave the kind of masterclass in public communications which middle class hacks can’t compute.
Progressive taxation
Top Tories, he told BBC Newcast, seem to think taxation is some kind of disease. Rather than a potentially progressive obligation to the rest of society:
Mick Lynch says he doesn't want Truss or Sunak to be PM as they are both hard right. "Really?" says @ChrisMasonBBC "They are on the edge of saying tax is abhorrent.. those of us on PAYE have no choice.. many people are avoiding tax like it's some kind of disease."#bbcnewscast pic.twitter.com/IWClKJVfHC
— Fintan McCarthy🍉 (@MccarthyFintan) July 22, 2022
And he pointed out that most of have no choice about tax, because it’s taken out of our wages. That’s unlike tax dodging CEO’s.
Stalked!
Lynch also explained his approach to the media: to give serious answers to serious questions. But he made clear that when journalists played games with “dopey” or “vapid” answers, he would take no prisoners.
And, he explained how during the height of the strikes his wife, kids, and relatives in the US had been hassled by the press:
"You just get on with it, I have the @DailyMailUK outside my house. In the run up to the #rmtstrikes I had my own 'personal photographer' for about a week, following my kids to work, following my wife, phoning relatives in USA.. all sorts of shenanigans..@RMTunion #bbcnewscast pic.twitter.com/e6s9COA35b
— Fintan McCarthy🍉 (@MccarthyFintan) July 22, 2022
Lynch also dealt with the government claim that raising wages was a cause of inflation. But he gave the argument short thrift. He asked why it was always workers wages, not corporate profit which were centred when inflation was discussed. And, he called for a proper redistribution:
Mainstream media are so afraid of Mick Lynch now, they apparently have to set 3 of them on him at a time, and he still schools them in basic economics
Workers don't cause inflation by asking for inflation-matched pay offers. The problem is profiteeringpic.twitter.com/ZnRDDKByb3
— Another Angry Voice (@Angry_Voice) July 22, 2022
Summer of Solidarity
Lynch also had strong words for the Labour Party. He branded the Tory leadership candidates as extreme right-wingers, but said they at least had confidence in their values.
Keir Starmer’s Labour, he said, needed to do the same with left-wing values. As did the rest of the labour movement, which had been in decline since the 80s:
Mick Lynch "This govt… would not hesitate to jump on a bit of jingoism and nationalism and anti-migrant feeling.. and ride that waves.. What Starmer and the front bench have to do is ride ..a solidarity wave and have a #SummerOfSolidarity #rmtstrikes @RMTunion#bbcnewscast pic.twitter.com/u9jn7xlgvP
— Fintan McCarthy🍉 (@MccarthyFintan) July 22, 2022
Powerful voice
Again, Lynch, like other trade union leaders, has proven to be a breath of fresh air. He has none of the polish, smarm and spin of middle class journalists and commentators. He knows his topic deeply and articulates himself in a frank, no-nonsense way.
And he’s right when he says what we need is a ‘summer of solidarity’. And Labour better catch up, or be left behind – once again.
Featured image via RMT, cropped to 770 x 403
