Protest the Government’s new anti-Trade Union laws & TUC lobby and rally 2 November

Head Office Circular No. NP/243/22

27th October 2022

To all Branches and Regional Councils

Protest the Government’s new anti-Trade Union laws & TUC lobby and rally 2 November

UPDATED INFORMATION

As you will be aware the the TUC has called a lobby of Parliament for 2nd November as part of the “We demand better” campaign. The TUC timetable for the day sets out an afternoon lobby followed by a rally at nearby Westminster Central Hall.

A key part of the lobby is to oppose possible new anti–trade union legislation. It is now the case that last week the government published the new Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill that has the sole intention of effectively outlawing the right to strike in the transport sector. In light of these devlopments please note the following timetable of actiions for Wednesday 2nd November. Please suppport which actions you can on the day.

1:00pm to 1:30pm: RMT Protest against Minimum Service Levels legislation – Old Palace Yard (Outside Parliament) -

We will be firstly gathering outside of Parliament at Old Palace Yard for a brief protest and photocall against the new Minimum Service Levels legislation. Please make every effort to attend and bring flags and banners. We shall also be inviting other unions.

1.30pm to 5.30pm Lobby of Parliament

We will then begin to join the TUC’s mass lobby of Parliament where you will then get the chance to lobby your MP to discuss the new Minimum Service Levels Bill and demand that they vote against this draconian legislation.

Hundreds of RMT Members have already made appoinments with their MPs or expressed an interest in doing so. In all cases if you intend to lobby your MP please go to Westminster Central Hall, Storeys Gate, London SW1H 9NH (which is just a few minutes away from Parliament) to register with the TUC who will then begin to take lobbyists over to parliament.

Don’t worry if you have not got a meeting pre-booked with your MP as you can still lobby them using the “Green Card” system on the day and the TUC will advise on how to do this.

Mass Rally – Westminster Central Hall – 6pm to 8pm

Following the lobby of Parliament there will a mass rally at Westminster Central Hall in Westinster, SW1H 9NH where I will be speaking alongside other trade union leaders. You can sign up to the rally and get more information here: https://www.tuc.org.uk/LondonRally

We will not sit idly by or meekly accept any further obstacles on our members exercising their rights.

Join us on Wednesday 2nd November and help us send that clear message

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary