United Campaign
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FOR TRADE UNION FREEDOM
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to Repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws
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10 July 2008 Support Grows for the Campaign for a Trade Union Freedom BillEarly Day Motion 1604 in support of the Trades Union Freedom Bill Campaign now has 105 MP's signatures. A link to a model letter can be found below for all supporters who appreciate the need for more trade union freedom at least to comply with fundamental rights. Please write to your MP and ask them to sign EDM 1604 in support of the Bill.
Further information:
Previous news articles on the Trade Union Freedom Bill
2 June 2008 The Trade Union Freedom Bill - Three Years onFor the 3rd successive year the United Campaign has encouraged an Early Day Motion - EDM 1604 and so far 47 MPs have signed. The United Campaign has written to MPs who have yet to sign and we are encouraging readers to write to their own MP, see the model letter below and how to find out if your MP has signed. The United Campaign hopes to get support for amendments to the Employment Bill in the House of Commons to incorporate all or some of the provisions of the Trade Union Freedom Bill. We have amendments already drafted which will be given to MPs who are prepared to raise the issues involved. Later in the year we intend to encourage another Trade Union Freedom Bill – this time as a 10 Minute Rule Bill. Along with our supporters we hope to arrange a rally to coincide with the reading of the bill. In addition there have been a number of union motions covering the Trade Union Freedom Bill. We welcome the added impetus this gives to the campaign for collective rights and the abolition of unlawful anti union laws.
9 January 2008 An Update on the Trade Union Freedom BillOur efforts to bring back the Bill introduced by John McDonnell last year failed to find an MP high enough in the poll for a Private Member’s Bill. But we are formulating further action in our campaign to free unions from the shackles of the anti trade union laws. We will press on to put out the message for trade union freedom in a variety of other ways in the coming months. We are looking towards a rally – hopefully as well supported as the last one – to coincide with a “10 Minute Rule” Bill in May or June. We are planning a wider civil society campaign. We want to take on board what our affiliates say and we will keep the website updated and continue to send out newsletters. We also want to encourage debate around the Employment Bill which started its parliamentary journey in the Lords on 6 December. Already the TUC Executive has been told that Unite the Union wants to explore ways to seek to put in amendments to the Employment Bill along the lines of the issues raised by John McDonnell’s Bill.
5 November 2007 Report from United Campaign Rally For Trade Union Freedom Bill - 18 October 2007Hundreds 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."
9 August 2007 Trade Union Rights and Freedoms Bill is tabled for Second ReadingOn 2 March we had the necessary 100 MPs on a Friday in the Commons - no mean feat - but the Government Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, "talked out" the Bill listed in front of the Trade Union Freedom Bill, so John McDonnell was not called to put the case. This came as no surprise. Added to the disgrace was that the previous Bill was Paul Farrelly's Temporary and Agency Workers' Bill. The good news is that Paul and John agreed on a tactic to enable both Bills to be listed on 19 October. To mark this important event the United Campaign is organising a National Rally in support on the eve of the Bill being tabled in parliament. The Rally is supported by the TUC and many of the National Unions. Meanwhile, it's important for everyone to continue to encourage MPs to sign the Early Day Motion - number 532. If your MP has not signed, please use this model letter to write to your MP. In the last session of Parliament there was an early day motion 1170 that had the support of 187 MPs at the time that it was withdrawn in accordance with the Commons Rules. But it has not gone away and was brought back for the latest session. So far we are up to 113 MPs who have signed. If your MP has not signed, lobby him or her to do so.
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United Campaign to Repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws, 39 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JD | info@unitedcampaign.org.uk |
