Mick Lynch broadcasts retirement as head of RMT

Mick Lynch, head of the rustic’s biggest railway union, has introduced his retirement.

The 63-year-old was basic secretary of the Nationwide Union of Rail, Maritime and Shipping Employees in 2021, and beneath his management the union staged a chain of moves over pay in 2022 and 2023, culminating in a maintain the brand new Labour executive this summer time.

Feted by means of supporters for his straight-talking taste, he used to be attacked by means of critics for his £84,000 wage and for the disruption led to by means of the union’s business motion.

Mr Lynch didn’t give a reason why for status down however stated it had “been a privilege to serve this union for over 30 years in all capacities”, including it used to be now “time for exchange”.

Mr Lynch will keep in his function till Might, when RMT participants elect a brand new basic secretary.

He stated there used to be a necessity for a robust union for rail staff, however {that a} robust organisation wanted “renewal and alter”.

He stated he used to be happy with serving the union, including: “This union has been via a large number of struggles in recent times, and I imagine that it has best made it more potent regardless of the entire odds.”

At 16, he left faculty and educated to be an electrician, ahead of discovering paintings in development.

As business motion ebbed and flowed within the Nineteen Eighties, Mr Lynch was all in favour of a breakaway union and used to be secretly blacklisted by means of structures firms, leaving him suffering to seek out paintings for years.

When the blacklist used to be uncovered a long time later, Mr Lynch used to be compensated with a cheque for £35,000, a replica of which hangs framed on his workplace wall.

He went directly to discovered the Electric and Plumbing Industries Union (EPIU) in 1988, ahead of becoming a member of the RMT.

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

Mr Lynch’s predecessor as basic secretary, Mick Money, retired in 2020 after six years within the process, blaming a “marketing campaign of harassment” by means of parts of the club.

Mr Lynch used to be appointed appearing basic secretary, however quickly stood down himself, accusing senior union participants of “bullying” and developing “an insupportable, poisonous setting”.

He then returned and gained election to the function completely in Might 2021.