Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, has donated £2,000 to the strike fund of the RMT union’s East Midlands branch as part of her worker’s wage pledge.

On Thursday, Ms Whittome joined striking rail workers outside Nottingham Station. She is speaking at their rally there at 12pm today.

RMT workers are on strike against job cuts and changes which will mean working longer hours and reduced pay. After years of pay freezes, they are asking for a pay rise to help their wages keep up with inflation.

When Ms Whittome was elected, she pledged to share her MP’s salary with local causes in Nottingham. She has previously made donations to the local branches of other unions – the IWGB Couriers’ branch and the App Driver and Couriers’ Union – as well as a range of charities, not-for-profits and grassroots groups. She takes home £35,000 per year after tax, donating the remainder.

Commenting on her donation, Ms Whittome said:

“Rail strikers are leading the way for workers in the cost of living crisis – demanding decent pay and conditions to keep up with the cost of soaring inflation. 

“It’s workers like them who need a pay rise, not MPs. That’s why I’m donating £2,000 from my salary to my local RMT branch strike fund.

“When workers go on strike, they don’t get paid. So this money will help to ensure that no one faces hardship as a result of standing up for themselves at work.”