UNISON members, the TUC and protesters rallied outside the Westminster parliament last night to defend the right to strike.
The emergency protest coincided with the government’s new anti-strike legislation, the Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Bill.
Eddie Brand from UNISON London Ambulance Service branch, which has taken action four times in the last year, spoke at the protest.
Addressing the crowds, Mr Brand said: “The very same members who were called NHS heroes, they now want to attack for taking part in democratic lawful industrial action.”
Mr Brand said the bill was an insult to the ambulance service’s commitment to patients and their professionalism as they always provided life and limb cover on strike days.
📣 “The very same members who were called NHS heroes, they now want to attack for taking part in democratic lawful industrial action”
Eddie Brand from our @LASUNISON branch speaking tonight about why it’s so important we protect #TheRightToStrike 💪 pic.twitter.com/WOJXxnF2ty
— UNISON Greater London (@unisonglr) May 22, 2023
Last night Conservative MPs reversed the positive changes made by the House of Lords to protect striking workers from dismissal, unions from excessive damages and the integrity of the devolved political institutions.
It is now up to the House of Lords if they want to re-insert these amendments again in the coming weeks.
Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Wansbeck, said the legislation was “a battering ram against ordinary working people”.
UNISON will continue to challenge these proposed laws and protect the right to strike.
