Trades unionists from across the labour movement are expected to congregate outside Parliament this evening in a protest against the Minimum Service Levels bill.
The protest is against the government’s efforts to force through a new anti-strike law which targets frontline workers, from nurses and paramedics to firefighters and rail workers, by threatening to take away their right to strike. According to the RMT, if workers don’t accept its terms, they will face the sack.
A protest against the bill will be held this evening, Monday, 16th January, starting at 6pm from the statue of Field Marshall ‘Monty’ Montgomery which is outside the Ministry of Defence on Whitehall and opposite 10 Downing Street.
Speakers at the protest will include:
- Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT);
- Dave Ward, General Secretary of the Communications Workers Union (CWU);
- Jo Grady, General Secretary of the University and College Union (UCU);
- Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU);
- Jordan Rivera representing NHS Workers Say NO!
- Zarah Sultana MP, Labour MP for Coventry South;
- Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the TUC.
This evening’s protests follow protests last Saturday outside the offices of a number of Tory MPs who support the bill.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:Â “The government has decided to bring in this anti-worker law because it wants to make effective strike action illegal in Britain.
“Trades unionists and democrats from across the political spectrum must come together in the interests of civil liberties and human rights to oppose these measures.
“This violation of democratic norms and values will be strongly opposed by the RMT and the entire labour movement, in Parliament, the courts and the workplace, if it is put on the statute books.”
WATCH: Mick Lynch talking about the right to strike.
Further information about the protest can be found online at https://wesayenough.co.uk/events/
Responses
Is this all RMT members do, strike and protest. Is it unreasonable, as a tax payer and rail passenger want to use the railway.
The minimum service level during stikes is not unreasonable from the public point of view.The proposals will not affect private sector workers.
It was said that RMT and Government/Rail Delivery Group were nearly there on settlement. Can’t they get on ASAP and still ASLEF to be dealt with.
As leisure passengers want some normality ASAP and the I can renew rail card, which expired May 22 and no point renewing until some normality (God forbid).