date: 25 January 2006
embargo: immediate
May Day march for rights
Meeting today, the TUC Executive has called for trade unionists to march for trade union rights and in support of a Trade Union Freedom Bill on May Day. The TUC will join with the traditional London May Day march to provide a national focus on May 1st, which this year is also the May Day Bank Holiday. Local May Day events around the country will also give trade unionists the opportunity to back the TUC's campaign.
More information about the march and rally will be available at www.tuc.org.uk/mayday in the run up to the countrywide events. The London march will assemble at Clerkenwell Green and march to Trafalgar Square for a rally.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'People at work in the UK enjoy fewer rights than most people in the rest of Europe.
'Union campaigns have won advances such as the minimum wage, better time off and union recognition laws, but there is still a long way to go to win decent minimum rights for all, as we saw at Gate Gourmet.
'This is why today's TUC Executive called on Britain's trade unionists to march for modern rights for modern workplaces and a Trade Union Freedom Bill on May Day.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet : a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
- A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 9am-9pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Ben Hurley T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07881 622416 ; E: bhurley@tuc.org.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
Press release (400 words) issued 25 Jan 2006
