READING Trade Unions Council (RTUC) is set to hold a rally in Reading on Saturday to voice their opposition to the Minimum Service Levels Act and other anti-trade union laws.
They say that the act brought into law back in July this year puts “unacceptable” restrictions on the ability of workers to withdraw their labour in certain sectors.
These sectors cover a large number of workers, including in the health, education, transport, and fire and rescue fields.
Now the RTUC is calling for trade union members and workers, as well as members of the public, to join them in opposing the legislation.
They’re also calling on candidates in the upcoming general election to pledge support for the abolition of the act.
The rally will feature both local and national speakers representing a wide range of trades unions, including PCS, NEU, FBU, ASLEF, RMT, BMA, GMB, Unite Community and others.
It will be followed by a social, including a performance from The Highwasters.
Attendees are assembling in Forbury Gardens from 1pm on Saturday, October 14, to set off through the town centre from 2pm.
The march terminates at The Butler, Chatham Street, where a rally will take place from 3pm.
Nikki Dancey, president of RTUC, said: “In the middle of a cost of living crisis, workers in the UK are being made to pay for years of Tory mismanagement.
“Often the only effective way workers have to defend themselves is by withdrawing their labour.
“In a country that already has some of the worst anti-union laws in the world, the Tories now want to strip away this last line of defence, leaving workers prey to their vicious austerity agenda–RTUC is proud to be spearheading local opposition to this.”
