Do you have sympathy with striking workers?

·1 hr 32 min·5 clips

A reporter describes York Station as 'pretty deserted' due to strikes, with taxi drivers doing 'about a job an hour'.

Eddie Mair opens the show by highlighting major news stories, including A-level exam results and multiple strikes. He focuses the hour on industrial action, listing numerous strikes planned for August across sectors like rail, postal services, waste collection, and ports. Mair invites listeners to share their experiences and sympathies regarding strikes. Reporter Vicky Smith provides a live update from York Railway Station, describing its deserted state and the economic impact on local businesses like taxi drivers and the racecourse. Ellie Dempsey, deputy secretary general of the RMT, joins to discuss her personal experience with striking and the union's rejection of Network Rail's pay offer. Industrial correspondent Alan Jones suggests public sympathy for strikers has increased due to widespread cost-of-living pressures. Listener calls reveal diverse views: Will from Liverpool recalls historic strikes, Terry from Basildon argues essential services should not strike, and John from Kings Lynn emphasizes the sacrifice involved. The episode also briefly touches on other topics like A-level results, energy prices, and political news, but the core remains the strike discussion, exploring themes of solidarity, disruption, and economic hardship.

As heard by us

A live call-in weighs sympathy for striking workers against the travel disruption described by callers.

The episode frames strikes as a test of public sympathy, measuring support for workers against the disruption felt by people trying to travel.

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Why you'd press play

Want to test your sympathy for strike action against the travel disruption listeners are invited to describe?

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