By a Free Our Unions supporterThe disgraceful sacking of 800 P&O ferries workers, and the subsequent union campaign to reverse it, show the abject inadequacy and weakness of existing employment legislation. P&O took their action in the full knowledge that it broke employment law. In the face of recent government threats to legislate to forceContinue reading “Solidarity with P&O workers! Defy the anti-union laws, and fight for their abolition!”
Author Archives: freeourunions
TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference fringe meeting, 22 March, 11:30: Disabled People for Free Trade Unions!
Free Our Unions is co-sponsoring a fringe meeting, along with the RMT’s Disabled Members Advisory Committee, at the forthcoming TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference. The meeting will take place on Tuesday 22 March, at 11:30, via Zoom. Speakers include: • Janine Booth, RMT Disabled Members Advisory Committee and Free Our Unions• Sarah Woolley, General Secretary, BakersContinue reading “TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference fringe meeting, 22 March, 11:30: Disabled People for Free Trade Unions!”
Birkbeck UCU says: free our unions!
The University and College Union (UCU) branch at Birkbeck, University of London, has become the latest trade union branch to support the Free Our Unions campaign. Birkbeck UCU will also be sending a motion to UCU’s Congress which aims to commit the union to active campaigning on the issue of anti-union and anti-strike laws. FreeContinue reading “Birkbeck UCU says: free our unions!”
Give workers who refuse to unload Russian fuel legal back-up: repeal the anti-union laws!
Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps about the inspiring action of dockers who’ve blocked Russian oil and gas coming into the UK. Haigh says: “There is a real risk under existing laws that for taking a brave moral stand, trade unionists could risk litigation or other action for refusing to handle Russian cargo.Continue reading “Give workers who refuse to unload Russian fuel legal back-up: repeal the anti-union laws!”
Political strikes, the war in Ukraine, and the anti-union laws
By a Free Our Unions supporter Actions by UK dockers in Cheshire, Kent and Scotland’s northern isles to stop Russian fossil fuels from coming to the UK, in protest at the invasion of Ukraine, are part of a proud tradition of workers’ action here for political goals. The ILWU union in the US’s West Coast ports hasContinue reading “Political strikes, the war in Ukraine, and the anti-union laws”
“Liberal” MLAs block repeal of laws restricting workers’ freedoms
Disappointing news from Stormont, where socialist MLA Gerry Carroll’s Trade Union Freedom Bill fell on 1 March by just five votes. The bill would have repealed Tory anti-union and anti-strike laws in Northern Ireland. Had Alliance Party MLAs backed it, it would have passed. Alliance claims to be a “liberal” party, but its MLAs appearContinue reading ““Liberal” MLAs block repeal of laws restricting workers’ freedoms”
Pushing workers’ rights up the agenda: Labour Left Internationalists meeting, 5pm, 19 February
UCU activist Rhian Keyse will be speaking on behalf of Free Our Unions at a meeting on 19 February, organised by Labour Left Internationalists (LLI). LLI write: Unite, RMT, CWU, and the TUC passed resolutions in 2021 calling for a joint union demonstration for workers’ and union rights in spring 2022. Since then NHS workers,Continue reading “Pushing workers’ rights up the agenda: Labour Left Internationalists meeting, 5pm, 19 February”
Solidarity with striking Actavo scaffs – protest on 22 February
Unite activists write: This dispute, which began in 2019, is a result of the scaffolders not being paid in line with the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). The rates for the workforce are currently 10-15 per cent (depending on specific roles) below NAECI rates. The 62 workers have been on continuous strike actionContinue reading “Solidarity with striking Actavo scaffs – protest on 22 February”
GOSH bosses uses courts to break strike – protest at the Royal Courts of Justice!
Bosses at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London have used the courts to block effective picketing by striking security guards, who now face criminal charges if they attempt anything beyond the most tame, ineffectual activity within 200 metres of their workplace. The injunction is another example of how the laws and judiciary are a toolContinue reading “GOSH bosses uses courts to break strike – protest at the Royal Courts of Justice!”
Tories want to tax unions to pay for the Certification Officer
This article is reposted from the website of the Institute for Employment Rights, where it was first published on 28 January. This week, legislation was passed in the House of Commons which not only imposes a levy on trade unions to cover the costs of the Certification Officer but could hit trade unions with huge financial penalties.Continue reading “Tories want to tax unions to pay for the Certification Officer”
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