Protesters set to march in solidarity with striking workers in Portsmouth Guildhall as unions say bosses are maximising profits while ‘essential workers cannot afford to fuel cars for work’

The Portsmouth Trades Council has called for a ‘Support the Strikes’ solidarity march on Saturday, assembling at 11.30am at Guildhall Square.

The demonstration will be led through Commercial Road, followed by a rally at Guildhall Square at 12.30pm.

Protesters will also be speaking out about the cost of living crisis and the rising bills affecting people across the Portsmouth area.

Jon Woods, chairman of Portsmouth Trades Council, said: ‘It is a lie that workers pay rises have caused high inflation.

‘For years most wage increases have been less than inflation - a pay cut in real terms.

‘Shortages and rising costs of fuel and raw materials are causing inflation, along with bosses maximising their profits.

‘Shell made £10bn and BP £7bnin the last three months while essential workers could not afford to fuel the cars for work.

‘Centrica, who owns British Gas, made £1.3bn the first half of 2022 while fuels bills soar and millions will freeze this winter.’

Rail workers, BT workers, train drivers, bus workers, and refuse workers have been on strike, and the trades council unanimously passed motions from Portsmouth RMT and Portsmouth City Unison that called for the protest march on Saturday..

SEE ALSO: More than 1,000 refugees have moved to Hampshire in the past 12 months

Jon added: ‘It is right for trade unions to defend their members from wage cuts, job insecurity and attacks on their conditions.

‘Trade unions are about solidarity.’

The News has previously reported on the ways that the cost of living crisis is impacting Portsmouth families.

Renters have faced an ‘eviction crisis’ as dozens of families have been booted from their homes, as action group Generation Rent warned ‘people face a devastating choice between paying rent, heating their home and putting food on the table’.

Armed forces charity Help for Heroes says it is having to support veterans in the area with grants to help pay energy and food bills.

In July, The News reported that fuel bills for the average family were expected to spike to £500 a month in the new year, and motorists have seen the price of fuel rise significantly in recent months.