PADDY CRUMLIN
NATIONAL SECRETARY, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA
PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS FEDERATION
MEDIA RELEASE
1 February 2023
ITF joins mass protest to defend UK workers' right to strike
Up to half a million British teachers, civil servants, and train drivers walked out over pay in the largest coordinated strike action for a decade on Wednesday, with global unions including the ITF joining the struggle to defend workplace pay and conditions as well as defending the rights of all workers to strike and engage in industrial action to defend their collective interests.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) will back union legal action against the UK Government’s proposed anti-strike legislation, the organisation announced last week.
International transport unions have added their voice to growing condemnation of the UK Government’s ruthless attack on workers’ right to strike and called on all parties to reject the draconian anti-union legislation.
“The UK Government has launched a full-scale attack on working people and trade unions,” said ITF President Paddy Crumlin. “It’s attempting to force the Minimum Service Level bill through Parliament. Its blind ambition is to give ministers sweeping new powers to restrict the right to strike.
“Instead of engaging with workers who sustain vital public services and negotiating in good faith to solve the legitimate disputes which have led to recent strike action, Rishi Sunak and his anti-union henchman Business Secretary Grant Shapps are intent on attacking workers fighting for a fair pay rise during the worst cost of living crisis in decades.”
At the mass rally on Wednesday 1 February, Paddy Crumlin addressed the largest mass strike seen in many years. The video can be viewed here:
