We have a Labour government. That means a party with historic and structural links to trade unions is now in power; but its leaders say they are “pro-business” as well as “pro-worker”. Labour has committed to repealing the 2023 Minimum Service Levels Act, and the 2016 Trade Union Act (which mandates turnout thresholds in strike ballots). This is progress, but these measures will leave a vast array of restrictive anti-union and anti-strike laws on the statute books. The wider labour movement must renew efforts to demand the abolition of all legal restrictions on our right to organise and strike, pushing Labour to go further, faster.
Free Our Unions was initiated by The Clarion magazine and Lambeth Unison. It is now backed by dozens of unions branches, committees, and local Labour Parties. Five national trade unions – IWGB, FBU, RMT, PCS, and IWW – have supported the campaign via their Annual General Meetings and/or National Executive Committees or equivalents. It was initially established to promote and amplify policies passed at Labour Party conferences calling for the abolition of all anti-union laws, not only the most recent, and to demand Labour fight for this policy in opposition and commit to enacting it in government. (For more background to the campaign, click here.)
Free Our Unions plans renewed campaigning to pressure the Labour government, and is calling for united and coordinated activity between existing campaign groups currently active on these issues.
The Employment Rights Act and the right to strike
Comment by a Free Our Unions supporter Good news that the Employment Rights Bill has finally passed, against resistance from the House of Lords, the Tories and Reform UK, and employers. The Employment Rights Act, in its final legislative form – a lot in terms of implementation will depend on a series of consultations –…
TUC calls for “immediate repeal of all anti-union laws”
The recent congress of the TUC, which took place form 7-10 September, reaffirmed the TUC’s support for repealing all legal restrictions on the right to strike.
Join the solidarity rally in Hull!
Hull Trains drivers in Aslef are striking against the sacking of a workmate for raising health and safety concerns. They will hold a solidarity rally on Friday 29 August.
John Hendy proposes new amendments to legalise solidarity strikes
Labour peer John Hendy will propose new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to legalise “secondary” (solidarity) action.
Oppose the proscription of Palestine Action
The use of anti-terrorism laws against civil disobedience could have far reaching effects for the trade union movement.
Support the mass picket in Sheffield!
A coalition of labour movement organisations, including Free Our Unions, have cosponsored a call for a mass picket in support a bin workers’ strike in Sheffield on 9 July.
After Hendy’s amendment: campaign to legalise solidarity
A discussion article by a Free Our Unions supporter.
Unions speak out for the right to strike
Five trade unions have co-signed a statement supporting an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill that would end the ban on solidarity strikes (aka “secondary action”).
Secondary action: a briefing for union activists
We’re sharing this briefing, written by rank-and-file activists in the British Medical Assocation (BMA), about the fight for the right to take secondary (solidarity) action.
Unions must fight to stop Labour backsliding on right-to-strike commitments
The government is backtracking on its promise to repeal the 2016 Trade Union Act – now saying that repeal of the crucial 50% turnout threshold for strike ballots will be delayed indefinitely, until after electronic balloting is introduced.
Employment Rights Bill: what’s the latest, what should we be fighting for?
Join us at 6pm on 12 December for an online briefing and discussion on the Labour government’s Employment Rights Bill, with Maria Exall and Gregor Gall.
Who decides if we can go on strike?
A discussion article by a supporter of Free Our Unions. We welcome responses and debate.
Labour’s plans for repealing (some) anti-union laws
The new government’s Employment Rights Bill will make some significant changes to anti-union laws. But it will also leave many on the statute books.
Labour’s Employment Rights Bill
Labour says its Employment Rights Bill will be “the biggest overhaul in workers’ rights for a generation”, but ensures the bosses it is “pro-business” as well as “pro-worker”. Read the bill here; Free Our Unions will carry analysis and responses in the coming days and weeks.
Anti-union laws bar striking on crucial working-class issues
A discussion article by Janine Booth, Free Our Unions supporter.
Free Our Unions 