With Rishi Sunak’s Tory government promising new restrictions on the right to strike, it is more urgent than ever that the entire labour movement unites to resist anti-union laws.
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. Four national trade unions – IWGB, FBU, RMT, and PCS – have supported the campaign via their Annual General Meetings and/or National Executive Committees. 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 now plans renewed campaigning against the Tories’ proposed new laws, and is calling for united and coordinated activity between existing campaign groups currently active on these issues.
Add your support: for a national demonstration against anti-strike laws
As part of our efforts to mobilise rank-and-file trade unionists to push for our unions to call a national demonstration against anti-strike laws, we have launched a petition on change.org.
Don’t cross a picket line – join one!
Throughout the current strike wave, misinformation and disinformation has circulated – usually from employers, but sometimes from union officials too – about our rights in multi-union workplaces/industries where one or several, but not all, unions are striking. Some union officials have effectively instructed members to cross the picket lines of other unions.
After the mass strike and day of action: Free Our Unions open organising meeting, 7pm, 7 February
After the mass strike and TUC day of action against new anti-strike laws on 1 February, join us to discuss next steps in the fight against the Tories’ plans for new restrictions on the right to strike.Our next organising meeting, open to all supporters of the campaign, will take place on Tuesday 7 February, at 7pm.…
We need discussion and planning, not just rallies
An attendee reports on the 24 January “Defend the Right to Strike” meeting called by Strike Map, the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom, and others, which was billed as an “action planning” meeting as well as a rally.
Rally and planing meeting, 24 January (called by CTUF, StrikeMap, and others)
The Campaign for Trade Union Freedom has called a rally and planning meeting for activity against anti-strike laws on 24 January, 6pm at the National Education Union HQ in central London (see here for details).Free Our Unions supports this meeting and encourages activists to attend. With 12 top-table speakers currently billed, the event seems to…
Discussion: The “Workers’ Bill of Rights” is welcome, but we need clarity and drive on right to strike
This discussion article was written by a Free Our Unions supporter. We welcome responses and further contributions. Email freeourunions@gmail.com with submissions. At its event in London on 3 December, the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) called for comments on and responses to its new Workers’ Rights in Times of Crisis pamphlet and the “Workers’ Bill…
Discussion: unions must call national demo against new anti-strike laws
By a Free Our Unions supporterAfter months of mainly silence or bullish dismissiveness, unions have started to sound the alarm about the Tories’ new proposals for a “minimum service” law, and at least nod to the need for protest. Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack has called for a “mass movement of resistance”, and…
Demonstrate at Downing Street on 16 January!
RMT has called a protest on Monday 16 January at 6pm, on Whitehall opposite Downing Street (London SW1A 2AA), to oppose the government’s plans for new anti-strike laws.
Free Our Unions open organising meeting: 7pm, 17 January
Join us to discuss how we can catalyse activity in our unions against the Tories’ plans for new restrictions on the right to strike.
Tories plan a dictatorship of the boss
In 1997, Tony Blair approvingly described Britain as having “the most restrictive union laws in the western world.” There is no legally-enshrined right to strike; unions are forced to jump over a series of bureaucratic hurdles in order to take action; strikes for political demands are illegal; strikes in solidarity with other workers are illegal.…
Islington council stands with striking workers
Islington borough council, in north London, has passed a resolution supporting striking workers, and opposing anti-union laws.
Free Our Unions organising meeting, 19 December, 7pm
We’ll be holding an open organising meeting for our campaign on Monday 19 December at 7pm. All supporters are welcome.
Motion to Unite policy conference 2023
The Glasgow Not for Profit Sector branch of Unite has passed the following motion, for submission to Unite’s 2023 policy conference. If you’re a member of Unite, please consider proposing a similar motion in your branch.
Unite to resist anti-union laws
Free Our Unions activists are looking forward to participating in the conference held on 3 February by the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom and Institute for Employment Rights. We encourage all supporters of our campaign to attend the conference if they can.
Solidarity with education workers in Ontario
Education workers in Ontario, Canada, are facing down repressive anti-union laws imposed by the province’s right-wing government.
Free Our Unions 