Mick Lynch proclaims retirement as head of RMT | EUROtoday

Mick Lynch, head of the nation’s largest railway union, has introduced his retirement.

He grew to become normal secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers in 2021, and below his management the union staged a collection of strikes over pay in 2022 and 2023, culminating in a cope with the brand new Labour authorities this summer time.

Feted by supporters for his straight-talking model, he was attacked by critics for his £84,000 wage and for the disruption brought on by the union’s industrial motion.

In a press release, Mr Lynch didn’t give a purpose for standing down however mentioned it had “been a privilege to serve this union for over 30 years in all capacities”, including it was now “time for change”.

Mr Lynch will keep in his function till May, when RMT members elect a brand new normal secretary.

He mentioned there was a necessity for a powerful union for rail employees, however {that a} sturdy organisation wanted “renewal and change”.

He mentioned he was pleased with serving the union, including: “This union has been through a lot of struggles in recent years, and I believe that it has only made it stronger despite all the odds.”

At 16, he left faculty and educated to be an electrician, earlier than discovering work in development.

As industrial motion ebbed and flowed within the Eighties, Mr Lynch grew to become concerned in a breakaway union and was secretly blacklisted by constructions corporations, leaving him struggling to seek out work for years.

When the blacklist was uncovered many years later, Mr Lynch was compensated with a cheque for £35,000, a replica of which hangs framed on his workplace wall.

He went on to discovered the Electrical and Plumbing Industries Union (EPIU) in 1988, earlier than becoming a member of the RMT.

He took cost of the RMT at a time of deep inner divisions.

Mr Lynch’s predecessor as normal secretary, Mick Cash, retired in 2020 after six years within the job, blaming a “campaign of harassment” by components of the membership.

Mr Lynch was appointed appearing normal secretary, however quickly stood down himself, accusing senior union members of “bullying” and creating “an intolerable, toxic atmosphere”.

He then returned and received election to the function completely in May 2021.