photography


St ry behind the


picture RMT Strike By Mark Thomas


In June, the RMT announced three days of national strikes. This dispute arose because workers had endured pay freezes and also faced the threat of compulsory redundancies. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Rail companies are making at least £500 million a year in profits, whilst fat cat rail bosses have been paid millions during the pandemic. This unfairness is fuelling our members’ anger and their determination to win a fair settlement.” I covered the picket line at Euston station on the first two strike days. The RMT had announced a rail strike solidarity rally on the last strike day at King’s Cross station. I thought this would be a great opportunity to get something a little bit different. When I’m covering an event, I always try to get a picture in my mind beforehand of what I want to achieve. On the day, I arrived in good time and secured a decent position a little way back from the stage, in a crowd of several hundred on the concourse. I had a monopod with me which I used to trigger the camera remotely. I


did a few tests as CWU general secretary Dave Ward spoke but I soon realised there was a problem. Three people raised placards directly in my line of shot. Having stood


patiently for well over an hour, I realised that I had to move or I would not get what I was after. I squeezed through the crowd and headed diagonally across to the other side of the stage which had a clear sightline. I did a few tests and was happy. Mick Lynch arrived and spoke, and I raised the camera and got the pictures that I had envisaged.


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