This Wednesday (February 1) marks the first day of the teachers' strike with many schools set to close throughout Bristol and across England and Wales. But the day will also mark a national day of action for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) which has organised events across different parts of the country in opposition to the Conservative Government's new Trade Union legislation.
The rally in Bristol will take place at 11am on College Green and people are encouraged to bring banners and show their support for striking workers and 'inflation-proof pay rises'. The National Education Union (NEU) which represents teachers will be among the unions which have officially pledged their support to the day of action, with local representatives encouraging teachers to join the rally after their morning pickets outside schools.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is pushing legislation through parliament this week through what has been called the minimum service levels bill which involves an amendment to the Trade Union and Labour relations Act, 1992 which is set to further restrict industrial action for public sector workers.
READ MORE: Strikes in Bristol this February - dates for nurses, teachers, legal, rail and ambulance workers
The Bristol Rally is calling for more funding for the railways, schools and public services. The teachers who commence their strike across England and Wales this week will be among half a million workers who are out on strike this Wednesday.
They will be joined by railway workers represented by the RMT and ASLEF and PCS members across government departments who will also be on strike. The TUC which represents the majority of Trade Unions is encouraging members of the public and those on strike to join the rally in support of pay and conditions and to take a stance against the legislation which is set to curtail the ability for workers to withdraw their labour.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty – but the government is attacking it in broad daylight. These draconian new curbs will tilt the balance of power even more in favour of bad bosses and make it harder for people to win better pay and conditions.
“Nobody should lose their job if they take lawful action to win a better deal. But ministers have gone from clapping our key workers to threatening them with the sack. Unions will fights these plans every step of the way – including through parliament and through the courts.
“On February the 1st will we hold events across the country against this spiteful new bill – which is unworkable and almost certainly illegal. We will call on the general public to show support for workers taking action to defend their pay and conditions, to defend our public services and to protect the fundamental right to strike.”
“The government should be following the example of many employers in the private sector who have sat down with unions and agreed fair pay deals. But instead ministers are drawing up plans that will succeed only in escalating disputes and driving workers away from wanting to work in our public services.”
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