HUNDREDS of trades unionists and anti-fascists mobilised in Manchester over the weekend in solidarity with striking train guards who were last week attacked on the picket line by right-wing thugs.

Guards employed by Arriva Rail (North) are involved in long-running strike action in defence of their safety-critical role on trains. Arriva, which is part of German state-owned rail operator Deutsche-Bahn, wants to sack the guards to increase profits.

The guards are staging 24-hour strikes every Saturday in opposition to the company’s government-backed plans.

On Saturday 5 January, pickets at Manchester’s Victoria station were confronted by 15 fascists threatening violence and shouting racial abuse. No-one was injured.

The labour and trades union movement in Manchester called for a mobilisation in support of the guards during this Saturday’s strike against any further threats on the 45th day of strike action organised by rail union RMT.

An estimated 300 people took part in last Saturday’s solidarity action. Speaker after speaker, from unions, trades councils, the Labour Party and anti-fascist groups, pledged support for the guards.

Steve Hedley, senior assistant general secretary of RMT, who was assaulted by fascists during a protest in London in July, told the gathering: “Last week the pickets were attacked by fascist thugs.

“They even put it online – showing people being attacked because of their colour, by people who want to blame all the ills of society on someone, scapegoats, whether it is Muslims, Jews or disabled people.”

He ended his speech with the declaration “No Pasaran!” the slogan used during the Spanish Civil War meaning “they shall not pass!”

Nahella Ashraf of Manchester Stand Up To Racism said: “It is not just minorities like myself the fascists are attacking. They had previously attacked the Bookmarks shop in London. That is how confident they are getting.

“It is happening across Britain and across the continent. What we want to see is these same numbers on the picket line every week. Wherever they appear we must push them back.”

She added that Home Secretary Sajid Javid was a “disgrace” for whipping up racism against asylum seekers who had attempted to cross the channel from France in search of refuge.