The union leader behind the Christmas rail strikes said industrial action had been coordinated to “bring down this bloody working-class-hating Tory government”, it has been claimed.
RMT president Sean Hoyle reportedly said the union's "rule number one" was to “strive to replace the capitalist system with a socialist order”.
Britain is bracing itself for further strikes on the Southern Rail network, which is likely to spell disaster for many travelling over the Christmas period and into the new year.
In excerpts of speeches published by The Times, Mr Hoyle reportedly told a meeting of hard-left activists last month, “if we all spit together we can drown the bastards”.
Following a drivers' strike earlier in December, RMT members will walk out on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 December, with a four-day walkout planned across the New Year from Saturday 31 December to Tuesday 2 January.
Drivers will then strike for most of the second week of the New Year: Monday 9 to Saturday 14 January.
The dispute is over “Driver Only Operation”: whether the driver or the guard opens and closes the doors, with both Aslef, the drivers' union, and RMT in dispute with Govia Thameslink (GTR) Southern's parent company,
However, videos of Mr Hoyle have now revealed an alleged political motive for the walkouts.
At a meeting organised by the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) in Brighton in September, Mr Hoyle said: “Any trade unionist with any sense wants to bring down this bloody working-class-hating Tory government. That’s what we want to do. That’s what we’re about.”
Mr Hoyle also admitted at another meeting the Southern strikes wouldn’t “hurt the company” financially but “what we’re having to do is to make that political stance”.
He also confirmed the union’s stance that plans for driver-only operations were "unsafe”.
The RMT has held 22 days of strike action since April to dispute Southern’s plans to change the guard’s role to "onboard supervisor” — checking tickets and helping passengers but not opening or closing the doors.
Members of Aslef held three days of strikes last week in protest, closing the entire Southern network on each of the strike days.
It is not just the railways likely to cause chaos for Britons travelling over the festive period.
British Airways cabin crew based at Heathrow airport are to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a row over pay and conditions.
The Independent has contacted RMT for comment.
