Carlisle RMT mark new banner with special march and service

The new Carlisle RMT branch banner will replace two old National Union of Railwayman banners - the RMT's predecessor trade union.

The new banner was commissioned last year and has been created by the renowned ‘Durham Bannermakers’ who have done many banners for Mining communities and progressive organisations.

RMT branches, including Stockport, Crewe, Blackpool and Fylde, Liverpool and Manchester were present, and the group marched from Carlisle train station up to the cathedral to the sound of the RMT Fishburn band.

The band leading the march through the city centre (Image: Mark Pinder)The RMT have taken strike action for more than 12 months in their pay and job security disputes with the government and the train operating companies. They have been one of many different unions to hold strike action amidst rising industrial tension during the cost-of-living crisis.

The event was organised by Craig Johnston (right) (Image: Mark Pinder)Once the march reached Carlisle Cathedral, the union banners from across the country formed up and processed into the cathedral to an arrangement of John Ireland’s hymn, Love Unknown, with the brand-new Carlisle RMT banner following on last as the assembled choir and congregation singing the favourite hymn ‘all creatures that on earth do dwell.’

Dignitaries present at the service included the Mayor and Mayoress of Carlisle, Cllr Carni McCarron-Holmes, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Carlisle, Julie Minns and RMT assistant general secretary John Leach and President Alex Gordon.

The Mayor at the event (Image: Mark Pinder)The service was taken by Carlisle Cathedral’s acting dean, Michael Manley, who led the congregation through readings and prayers before blessing the banner at the end of the service which also saw music performed by a group of singers from Carlisle Cathedral directed by Mark Duthie.

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The service was also an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives in mining disaster in Cumbria and those who died in work related incidents which representatives from the RMT and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) laying wreaths at the altar as the RMT Fishburn Band played ‘Gresford – the Miners’ Hymn’ which was written in response to the Gresford colliery disaster which killed more than 250 men in 1934.

The wreaths being laid at the service (Image: Mark Pinder)The banners processed out of the cathedral at the end of the service before marching back into the city centre for speeches by union delegates.