On Saturday 27 January, around 5,000 people took to the streets of Cheltenham against the Tories’ new anti-strike laws.
The date marked the 40th anniversary of GCHQ’s ban on trade unions, when Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government attacked trade union rights in 1984.
UNISON, along with other unions, say there are parallels between this historical event and the new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.
The Minimum Service Levels Act could restrict the right to strike for over five million workers. The new law stipulates that, when workers in certain public sectors vote to strike, they could be forced to attend work and sacked if they don’t comply.
What a wonderful sight – that sea of green and purple 💚💜#CheltenhamDemo #RightToStrike pic.twitter.com/Hmx4Pw6aqe
— UNISON South West (@UNISONSW) January 27, 2024
UNISON branches from across the country travelled to Cheltenham to join the thousands-strong march.
Dorset County branch with their incredible banner ✊🏼📣#CheltenhamDemo #RightToStrike pic.twitter.com/2FJARW9lVL
— UNISON South West (@UNISONSW) January 27, 2024
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, who spoke at the rally, said: “Rather than fixing the problems that force workers to take strike action, government ministers want to threaten public sector workers with the sack.
The biggest risk to the public is not striking workers, it’s more years of a Conservative government, and more years of cuts.”
