Tag Archives: Labour Party

Fight to free our unions

This article, by Riccardo La Torre and Sacha Ismail, was orginally published on the FBU website on 19th June 2019. Find it here. Anti-union laws, severely restricting the right to organise and take industrial action, are a barrier to workers defending their interests and building up the labour movement’s strength. All of them – fromContinue reading “Fight to free our unions”

Disabled workers and the anti-union laws

Published 3rd June 2019. At the recent TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference, civil service union PCS submitted a motion about electronic balloting for industrial disputes, with the RMT adding text, calling for campaigning to repeal all anti-trade union laws. Janine Booth, who was a member of the RMT delegation, explains why this is crucial for theContinue reading “Disabled workers and the anti-union laws”

Corbynism and the drought of workers’ struggles

Published 3rd April 2019 Despite some important developments in workplace struggle, and despite the political framework of the growth of the Labour Left, strikes are at a historic low and trade unions face a historic crisis. Professor Gregor Gall, an affiliated research associate at the University of Glasgow and Visiting Professor at the University ofContinue reading “Corbynism and the drought of workers’ struggles”

What’s in the Institute of Employment Rights manifestos and what does Labour say about them?

Published in November 2018 John McDonnell has said in several recent interviews that one of a Corbyn government’s priorities in its first hundred days will be to “restore” trade union rights. What rights are we talking about?

Angela Rayner was right about the anti-union laws

In September 2014, Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner (then a UNISON official, not yet an MP) spoke at a Manchester Trades Council public meeting about the need to repeal the anti-trade union laws introduced by the Tories in the 1980s and 90s. She wrote a summary of her speech for Unison North West, expressing the case brieflyContinue reading “Angela Rayner was right about the anti-union laws”

Labour conference commits to “abolishing anti-union laws” (again)

Published on The Clarion website, on 27th September 2018. Following the policy on repealing the anti-union laws and re-establishing the right to strike passed at Labour Party conference in 2015 and 2017, this year’s conference again resolved (in the Brexit composite!) that: “Labour will form a radical government; taxing the rich to fund better public services, expanding commonContinue reading “Labour conference commits to “abolishing anti-union laws” (again)”

RMT President Sean Hoyle on why you should buy our union rights pamphlet

By Sean Hoyle, (at the time of writing) RMT National President. Published on 26th September 2018. My union and others have learned through years of experience that the most effective way to win for our members is to take strong industrial action. We have also learned that the anti-union laws are designed to stop usContinue reading “RMT President Sean Hoyle on why you should buy our union rights pamphlet”