"It’s the only way the workers can be heard" - Mancunian commuters back striking rail workers

Commuters in Manchester city centre have largely backed striking railway workers — despite facing delays on the first day of the walk-out. The RMT drastically slashed services in the biggest rail walkout in 30 years.

The row over pay and conditions has sparked a bitter battle between unions and the Government, with last-ditch talks yesterday failing to resolve the disagreement. Today’s strike is the first of three this week — the others being Thursday and Saturday.

However, despite facing delays and missed meetings, passengers in Manchester largely threw their support behind rail workers joining the walkout.

READ MORE:What to do if you were planning to travel by train this week as strikes WILL go ahead

Teresa McHugh, who won’t be able to see her daughter on the strike days, told the MEN: “Normally I get the train to Marple Bridge, that’s where my daughter lives. We're all on s*** street.

“If we all went on strike, there wouldn’t be anything. I do not know what conditions they work in — but I have been on strike in the past.”

On the longest day of the year, the sun was beating down on Piccadilly Gardens. At 4.50pm, the first swell of commuters made their way to the bus stop to navigate their way back.

Usually, passengers will jostle for a place under the cover to avoid rain — but today the real prize is a spot of shade. Karen Davies is one of the lucky ones in a cooler spot.

“When I came in on the bus of the M60 near Audenshaw — at about 7:50am — it was three lines straight going to Stockport,” she says. “The M60 was busy this morning. It is a yes and no from me [on if I support the workers on strike] I can understand where they are coming from.”

Like most of the people waiting, Karen did not usually get the train home