Michael Joseph Cash (born 17 February 1960) is an Englishtrade unionist, and the former general secretary of theNational Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).
Cash was born in Laindon Hills, Basildon,Essex,[1] the third child of seven ofIrish Travellers fromCounty Kildare.[2]
Cash became a rail worker forBritish Rail in 1978, looking afterrailway signals at Watford Junction signal boxWest 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 ofBob Crow, defeating four other candidates. Cash retired as general secretary of the RMT in June 2021.[3]
Cash was a member of theLabour Party'sNational 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.[4] In that regard, he was widely considered as less radical than his predecessor, Bob Crow.[5]
Cash served as a Labour councillor onWatford Borough Council for 8 years,[4][6] serving as the Deputy Leader of Watford Labour Group.[7]
Cash has been a vocalBrexiter urging the rail workers to vote against the European Union.[8] He then voiced concerns over other trade unions that were considering asking for a second referendum.[9]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, Cash criticised theGovernment in its handling of relaxing thelockdown, with him calling on public transport workers to "refuse to work" if they feel unsafe.[10] He also criticised the decision of theDepartment for Transport to forceMayor of LondonSadiq Khan to place two special representatives on the board ofTransport 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."[11]
Cash is a keenfootball supporter, and followsWatford F.C.[12]
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vernon Hince | Senior Assistant General Secretary of theRMT 2002–2014 | Succeeded by Steve Hedley |
| Preceded by | General Secretary of theRMT 2014–2020 | Succeeded by |
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