Socialist Party members have joined union-organised protests in solidarity with up to 300 London Underground staff at risk of being deported.
Transport union RMT has held demonstrations outside the Home Office against the Labour government’s changes to work visa rules, which threaten rail workers, including on London’s tube.
Photo: Rob Williams
The government has removed several categories of jobs from the Skilled Worker Visa scheme – without consultation, imposed within weeks – in a move described by the RMT as “reckless” and by RMT members as racist.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Our members joined the rail industry in good faith, with the clear understanding that they could build careers and futures here. The government’s sudden rule changes have torn that up, putting dedicated transport staff at risk of losing their jobs and creating gaps in the workforce.”
Prison officers have also been removed from the Skilled Worker scheme, resulting in a threat to as many as 1,000 prison officers.
The Prison Officers Association said it was “scandalous”, accusing Labour of political posturing and pandering to Reform. “We urgently need these staff… This will inevitably lead to harder-to-manage prisons, plummeting morale, and the loss of dedicated professionals.”