Trade unionists to protest against proposed laws

City centre location for Police Bill protest.

Trades unionists in Birmingham will be protesting in the city centre this afternoon over the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 as it returns to Parliament for its final stage.

The protest, scheduled for 5pm outside Waterstones, High St is planned to coincide with a Kill the Bill protest in Parliament Square from 2-6 pm. Leading local trade unionists from UCU, Unison, Unite, PCS, RMT and NEU will be speaking and claim the bill will severely hit the ability of unions to defend their members’ interests.

Birmingham TUC spokesman Stuart Richardson said, “The Bill is an attempt to remove democratic rights won over centuries. The new Police Bill could remove or restrict our rights in a number of ways. It could criminalise any protest or public action, criminalise picket lines, criminalise Gypsy, Roma & Traveller people and lead to more Stop and Search.

“We need trade unionists and the community to mobilise against these attacks on our rights.”