Mick Lynch announces retirement as head of RMT

Mick Lynch, the leader of Britain's largest rail union, has announced his retirement. The 63-year-old union leader became the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) in 2021. Under his leadership, the union conducted a series of strikes over pay in 2022 and 2023, eventually reaching a deal with the new Labour government this summer.

Lynch has been praised by supporters for his outspoken style, but he has also faced criticism for his £84,000 annual salary and the disruption caused by the union's industrial action. Mr. Lynch did not state the reason for his resignation but said he had been "proud to serve the union in all positions for over 30 years," adding that now was "the time for change."

Mr. Lynch will remain in his position until May, when RMT members will elect a new General Secretary. He stated that rail workers need a strong union, but a strong organization needs "renewal and change." He expressed his pride in serving the union, adding, "The union has been through a lot of struggles in recent years, and I believe that despite the difficulties, this has only made it stronger."

At the age of 16, Lynch dropped out of school and trained as an electrician before finding work in the construction industry. During the wave of industrial action in the 1980s, Lynch became involved with a splinter union and was secretly blacklisted by construction companies, leading to years of difficulty finding work. When the blacklist was exposed decades later, Lynch received £35,000 in compensation, a copy of the check being framed and hung on his office wall.

He founded the Electrical and Plumbing Industries Union (EPIU) in 1988 before joining the RMT. He took over the union at a time of significant internal division. Lynch’s predecessor, Mick Cash, retired in 2020 after six years in the role, citing "acts of harassment" by some members as the reason. Lynch was appointed as acting General Secretary, but he soon resigned, accusing senior union members of "bullying" and creating an "intolerable, toxic atmosphere." He subsequently returned to the post and was permanently elected to the position in May 2021.