A general strike against anti-union laws?

This is a discussion article written by a Free Our Unions supporter, in a personal capacity. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has suggested a general strike in response to Liz Truss’ threat of new anti-union laws. While the militant spirit is good, this does not bring much clarity about what we need to do. In

Organising meeting: 7pm, Wednesday 3 August

With the next Prime Minister highly likely to introduce severe new restrictions on the right to strike, the labour movement must organise to resist. Free Our Unions will be holding an open organising meeting on Wednesday 3 August at 7pm, to discuss what activity we can organise directly, and how to work with, and within,

Organise against new anti-strike threats

Prospective Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced a raft of new anti-strike laws she plans to introduce if elected. These include: • Action within thirty days of taking office to introduce the “minimum service requirement” outlawing all-out strikes in certain sectors that the Tories pledged in their 2019 manifesto for transport – but extended to

As Tories threaten new anti-union laws, build solidarity for a summer of strikes!

With the RMT’s strikes on the national rail and London Underground leading the way for what will hopefully become a summer of strikes, the labour movement must build solidarity for all workers’ struggles – and mobilise to resist the threat of new anti-union laws. The Tories have already responded to the RMT strikes by rushing

As Tories reassert anti-strike law threat, unions must resist

In response to the RMT’s national ballot of workers in Network Rail and 15 mainline Train Operating Companies, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said the government will accelerate plans for new laws to restrict transport workers’ strikes. The plan is not new: the Tories’ 2019 manifesto included a commitment to implement the laws, which would

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, Bakers

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.

RMT says: we won’t comply with new anti-strike laws

The recent AGM of the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport workers passed several motions on resisting anti-union laws. These reaffirmed RMT’s strong opposition to all legal restrictions on the right to organise and strike, both existing and proposed, and committed the union to continue working with campaigns including Free Our Unions. Crucially, in

VIDEO: Discussing anti-strike laws with the Green Party Trade Union Group

On Friday 20 August, Free Our Unions co-organiser Daniel Randall addressed the Green Party Trade Union Group’s monthly meeting. A video of Daniel’s presentation, and the subsequent discussion, is below. Scroll down for an edited transcript of Daniel’s opening speech. My name’s Daniel Randall, I’m a railway worker and a rep for the RMT union.

GMB Congress takes strong stand against anti-union laws

The 2021 congress of the GMB, Britain’s third largest trade union, took place on 6-8 June. The congress passed the following resolution on the issue of anti-union legislation. Congress notes: • The Tories’ 2019 election manifesto included further attacks on the right to strike,i.e. the requirement for ‘Minimum Service Agreements’ in any railway strike, in