The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 is the Tories’ latest attack on workers’ rights. The law stipulates that when workers in certain sectors lawfully vote to strike, they could be forced to work and sacked if they don’t comply. This undemocratic new law could curtail the right to strike for 1 in 5 workers.
The TUC special Congress met on 9 December 2023 and agreed a defiant statement.
The statement included a decision to:
Mobilise the whole trade union movement to march with the sacked GCHQ workers through Cheltenham on 27 January, to commemorate their struggle, and to recommit ourselves to defiant opposition to Conservative minimum service levels, trade union restrictions and any threat to the right to strike.
More information about the demonstration is available here.
Manchester TUC is organising coaches to the national demonstration on Saturday 27 January 2024:
- Book your coach ticket here or use the same link to donate towards coach costs
- Leaflets and a letter appealing for support are in our downloadable resources
- Publicise the coach using the Facebook event
Manchester coaches to the demonstration will leave at 8:30am sharp from Chorlton Street (near the junction with Major Street, not inside the coach station). Please be there in good time to check-in and board before 8:30am. The coaches will return from Cheltenham Football Club (GL52 5NA) at 3:30pm. This is approximately a 15-20 minute walk from Pittville Park, but could take longer depending where you are in the park, crowds etc. Again, please be on time because other coaches will be using the same pick-up point after us so we cannot wait around.
Please consider making a financial contribution towards the cost of the coach.
If you would like a speaker about the new legislation and resistance to it for a workplace or branch meeting, please contact ian@manchestertuc.org.uk and we will help if we can.
If your union is organising transport from the Manchester area, please let us know and we will add details to this page. Other transport:
- Unite the Union details and booking form
