The National Policy Conference of Unite, one of Britain’s biggest unions, has passed a number of motions reaffirming the union’s opposition to all anti-strike laws.
One, submitted by Free Our Unions supporters in Unite’s CYNFP Glasgow/Lanarkshire branch, also adds Unite’s voice to calls for a national demonstration against proposed and existing laws, which was also recently endorsed by RMT and FBU.
The text of the motion is below.
Conference re‐affirms its policy of opposition to all anti‐union laws, as adopted at the 2021 Policy Conference: to campaign for the repeal of all anti‐union laws; to defy the anti‐union laws through organised action if necessary; to rally to the aid of any union targeted by the anti‐union laws; to take the lead in campaigning for the repeal of all anti‐union laws if the TUC fails to initiate such a campaign.
Conference notes with concern the lack of progress in implementing the policy agreed at the 2021 conference, especially given threats of further anti‐union laws by the Tories and the impact of the anti‐union laws on strike action in response to the cost‐of‐living crisis, e.g. strikes prevented by the 50% threshold or called off because of threats of legal challenges. Conference therefore resolves to instruct the national Executive Committee to:
- ensure that campaigning against the anti-union laws is an item on the agenda of every meeting of the national Executive Committee.
- ensure that Unite produces hard‐copy and online educational materials explaining the need for the repeal of all anti‐union laws and explaining Unite policy on this issue, for circulation to all members.
- encourage campaigning against the anti-union laws by all levels of our union, from national Executive Council to local branches.
- approach other unions with similar policies on the anti‐union laws with a view to holding a national demonstration for the repeal of, and defiance of, all anti‐union laws.
- use its position as Labour’s biggest trade union affiliate to campaign for Labour Party conference to re‐affirm existing policy for the repeal of all anti‐union laws and for inclusion of this policy in the next Labour general election manifesto, and to seek to work with other Labour‐affiliated unions to achieve these goals.
Free Our Unions 