Thousands of trade union activists mobilised outside Parliament on November 2 to protest the Conservative government's proposed ultra-right Trade Union bill. The turnout defied expectations of the event's organisers, the Trade Union Congress.
Speaking at the lobby's Central Hall rally, the Fire Brigade Union's Matt Wrack channelled the anger of his union's rank-and-file. Unite's Len McCluskey reiterated his union's commitment to extra-legal action should the bill be passed, invoking the movement's proud historic tradition of overriding unjust laws.
Equity's Andy Parsons made a mockery of the bill's absurd — and unworkable — requirements for social media use.
It is clear that even the most staid sections of the union movement have been revitalised by the new markers laid down by Jeremy Corbyn's election as Labour leader, and the flurry of militancy signposted by the transport union's ongoing strike action and the recent junior doctor's protests.
[Abridged from < a target="_blank" href="http://www.counterfire.org/news/18052-trade-union-bill-big-turnout-for-protest">Counterfire.org.]
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