Mick Cash

Michael Joseph Cash (born 17 February 1960) is an English trade unionist, and the former general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).

Early life

Cash was born in Laindon Hills, Basildon, Essex,{{Cite web|title=Michael J. Cash|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=fHJ8BCGVQGCfofxpnnQl5g&scan=1|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS|access-date=7 December 2019}} the third child of seven of Irish Travellers from County Kildare.{{Cite news|last=Topham|first=Gwyn|date=2014-09-30|title=RMT union's new 'moderate' leader Mick Cash says 'pick your fights'|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/30/rmt-union-mick-cash-pick-fights-bob-crow|access-date=2020-05-15|issn=0261-3077}}

Career

= Early career =

Cash became a rail worker for British Rail in 1978, looking after railway signals at Watford Junction signal box West Coast Main Line. He was eventually elected assistant general secretary of the RMT, and was subsequently elected general secretary in September 2014, following the death of Bob Crow, defeating four other candidates. Cash retired as general secretary of the RMT in June 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/22/rmt-elects-mick-cash-leader|title=RMT union elects Bob Crow's former deputy Mick Cash as leader|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=23 September 2014| first=Gwyn|last=Topham|date=22 September 2014}}

= Political positions =

Cash was a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) until the RMT disassociated itself from the party in 2004, and remains a Labour Party member as he has been since 1982.{{Cite web|title=Disillusioned with Labour, RMT chief plots new party|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mick-cash-interview-disillusioned-with-labour-rmt-union-chief-plots-new-a-party-for-the-left-9776039.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mick-cash-interview-disillusioned-with-labour-rmt-union-chief-plots-new-a-party-for-the-left-9776039.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|last=McSmith|first=Andy|date=2014-10-05|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}} In that regard, he was widely considered as less radical than his predecessor, Bob Crow.{{cite news|title=Has the RMT union's moderate Mick Cash turned militant?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/13/rmt-union-mick-cash-strike-southern-rail-eurostar-industrial-action|last=Topham|first=Gwyn|date=13 August 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=19 December 2016}}

Cash served as a Labour councillor on Watford Borough Council for 8 years,{{Cite web|title='Facts must be faced' after Potters Bar crash|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6333088.facts-must-be-faced-after-potters-bar-crash/|date=20 May 2002|website=News Shopper|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}} serving as the Deputy Leader of Watford Labour Group.{{Cite web |title=Rail Union Urges Members To Vote For Brexit |url=https://news.sky.com/story/rail-union-urges-members-to-vote-for-brexit-10232906 |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Cash has been a vocal Brexiter urging the rail workers to vote against the European Union.{{Cite book |last=Gall |first=Gregor |title=Bob Crow: Socialist, Leader, Fighter: a Political Biography |publisher=Manchester University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-5261-0028-3 |location=Manchester, United Kingdom |oclc=982012444}} He then voiced concerns over other trade unions that were considering asking for a second referendum.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-10 |title=RMT's Mick Cash to warn TUC that a second vote on Brexit let's the Tories off the hook |url=https://rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/content/rmts-mick-cash-warn-tuc-second-vote-brexit-lets-tories-hook |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=RMT London Calling |language=en}}

= Coronavirus pandemic =

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cash criticised the Government in its handling of relaxing the lockdown, with him calling on public transport workers to "refuse to work" if they feel unsafe.{{Cite web|title=Trains will be stopped if they become overcrowded, union boss warns|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/rmt-mick-cash-public-transport-warning-coronavirus-a4439631.html|last=Cruse|first=Ellena|date=2020-05-13|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}} He also criticised the decision of the Department for Transport to force Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to place two special representatives on the board of Transport for London, stating "London transport workers have been vital to fighting COVID-19 and any attacks on their pay, jobs and conditions arising from this imposed settlement will be a complete betrayal."{{Cite web|title=RMT threatens strike over government's 'austerity' TfL deal|url=https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2020/05/15-rmt-threatens-strike-over-governments.html|website=Rail News|access-date=2020-05-15}}

Personal life

Cash is a keen football supporter, and follows Watford F.C.{{cite news|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/11502787.watford-man-mick-cash-elected-as-new-leader-of-the-rail-maritime-and-transport-union/|title=Watford man Mick Cash elected as new leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union|last=Farr|first=Simon|date=29 September 2014|work=Watford Observer|access-date=10 September 2019}}