United Campaign Rally For Trade Union Freedom - 18 October 2007
Hundreds of trade unionists were present at Parliament on Thursday 18th October to highlight the need for a Trade Union Freedom Bill. The event’s theme “Freedom to Fight Poverty” and “Freedom to Fight Inequality” captured the mood of union representatives. Members from GMB, PCS, RMT, ASLEF, CWU, Musicians Union, Unite, Unison, NUM and people from as far away as Denmark and Germany came to show their support for the Bill.
The demonstration outside parliament highlighted the growing base of support for the campaign. The photograph stunt for the day consisted of six workers from various trades and professions including a builder, a train driver and a post woman, 'shackled together with the anti-trade union laws'.
Inside the speakers were well received by an enthusiastic and informed audience. With police estimating 1000 people attended the rally in parliament it was no surprise that the first committee room was soon full and the overspill room attracted nearly as many.
John McDonnell MP spoke on the future of the Bill and the process it would now go through. "This bill offers the ideal opportunity to re-establish basic civil liberties for trade unionists in this country, and I urge the government not to miss this chance." Phil McGarry of the STUC echoed this. "If we have a government that is listening and learning it should acknowledge the growing support for a bill that will right some of the massive wrongs that have undermined collective bargaining."
Tony Woodley of Unite T&G emphasised the need for solidarity in the movement. "The Trade Union Rights and Freedom Bill is the least we need to give workers in Britain the rights taken for granted in the rest of Europe. It is time the movement stood up and fought for it."
Carolyn Jones, Director of the Institute of Employment Rights said the "wonderful" turnout "shows the number of people and the range of unions who are calling for the rights and freedoms to operate properly in the workplace so that they can restrain the power of employers, stop the growth in inequality and fight poverty."
Photographs from the Event
View photographs from the National Rally on the 18th October 2007.
Event Details
- Thursday 18 October 2007
- 4.00-5.30pm - Demonstration outside House of Commons
- 5.30-7.30pm - Rally in Committee Room 14, House of Commons
Speakers
- John Hendy QC - United Campaign National Secretary
- John McDonnell MP
- Sarah Veale - TUC Head, Equality and Employment Rights
- Phil McGarry - STUC President
- Bob Crow - RMT General Secretary
- Tony Woodley - Unite T&G General Secretary
- Mark Serwotka - PCS General Secretary
- Matt Wrack - FBU General Secretary
- Brian Caton - POA General Secretary
- Keith Ewing - IER President
- Anita Halpin - SERTUC Vice President
- Katy Clark MP
- Christine Blower - NUT Assistant General Secretary
- Gail Cartmail - Unite Amicus Assistant General Secretary
- Patrick Roach - NASUWT Deputy General Secretary
- Manuel Cortes - TSSA Assistant General Secretary
Resources from the Rally:
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