Union Reps Threaten Immediate Direct Action Over No-Deal Brexit Suspension Of Parliament

The grassroots trade union movement is in revolt over Boris Johnson’s bombshell decision to shut down parliament in the face of a no-deal Brexit. 

More than 100 leading reps have broken ranks with union bosses to argue for immediate direct action “despite legal restrictions” placed on their organisations. 

A joint statement signed by 110 reps, in a personal not an official capacity, has been shared with HuffPost UK. 

One trade union source signalled the move could herald mass civil disobedience, wildcat strikes and stoppages. 

The reps, whose membership spans Unite, NEU, GMB, Unison and other unions, promise to “urgently mobilise direct action, including protests, strikes, and occupations”. 

It comes after the prime minister’s shock decision to prorogue parliament between September 9 and October 14, sparking fears remain-backing MPs are being silenced as the country heads towards a no-deal Brexit on October 31. 

Thousands of protestors flooded the streets around Westminster on Wednesday night chanting “stop the coup” after news spread that the Queen had consented to the prorogation. 

One trade union source told HuffPost UK: “Boris’ Brexit plans are a massive attack on workers and working class people.

“Across the labour movement, the mood is rising. If there is a mass movement of civil disobedience, there is no reason why we shouldn’t see wildcat strikes and stoppages.” 

Meanwhile, the grassroots left-wing campaign Momentum said it would support protests in Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield and York on Saturday. 

National coordinator Laura Parker has said she’ll “join an occupation of parliament” and is encouraging Momentum backers to block bridges and roads. 

“Eton educated, millionaire Boris Johnson is stealing our democracy so he can sell off our NHS to big US corporations in a no deal, Trump first Brexit,” she said. 

She added: “There are thousands of us who will join an occupation of parliament and block the roads before we let Johnson close the doors on democracy. 

“Our message to Johnson is this: if you steal our democracy, we’ll shut down the streets.”

A further demonstration in London on Tuesday September 3 when parliament returns is also planned. 

Johnson has insisted suspending parliament allows him to set out a fresh domestic agenda in a new Queen’s speech on October 14. 

But a petition to stop the suspension of parliament had almost 1.5 million signatures on Thursday. 

Trade union reps’ statement in full:

“As workers and trade union activists, we oppose Boris Johnson’s attempted coup and sabotage of democracy. 

“A no-deal Brexit will wreck working-class living standards and trash migrants’ rights. For an Etonian millionaire, elected by only a tiny handful of Tory activists, to force this through by asking our unelected head of state to suspend parliament is an affront to democracy and a lurch towards authoritarian nationalism. 

“Despite legal restrictions, we believe our unions, the Labour Party, and the whole working-class movement must urgently mobilise direct action, including protests, strikes, and occupations, in opposition to this development. We commit to arguing for this within our unions.”

Full list of signatories 

1. John Moloney, Assistant General Secretary, PCS union

2. Patrick Murphy, National Executive Committee, NEU 

3. Daniel Randall, Assistant Chair, RMT Bakerloo Line branch 

4. Simon Murch, NEU National Executive Committee and Joint Sheffield District & Branch Secretary

5. Riccardo La Torre, Eastern Region FBU Secretary

6. Mark Boothroyd, Joint Branch Secretary, Unite, Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital Branch

7. Henry Chango-Lopes, President, IWGB

8. Karam Bales, National Executive Committee, NEU

9. Ruth Cashman, Joint Branch Secretary, Lambeth UNISON

10. Simon Hannah, Joint Branch Secretary, Lambeth UNISON

11. Murray Sackwild NEU National Executive; West Essex District NEU General Secretary; Essex Branch NEU Deputy Secretary.

12. Nadia Whittome, Nottingham GMB

13. Tom Harrington, Education Officer, IWGB Couriers and Logistics Branch

14. Zack Murrell-Dowson, Treasurer, Bristol Couriers’ Network, IWGB

15. Andrew Berry, Islington UNISON

16. Yousaf Hassan, Waltham Forest UNISON

17. Dan Jeffery, Lambeth UNISON

18. Tracy McGuire, NEU Darlington.

19. Michelle Watts, NEU Workplace Rep

20. Joshua Lovell, Cambridge UCU

21. Pete Gillard, Unite

22. Darren Cogavin, UCU Workplace Rep

23. Chris Bright, Islington UNISON

24. Tony Harrison, President, Oldham NEU.

25. Mandy Hudson Ealing NEU

26. Alex Blenkhorn, UNISON Workplace Steward

27. Ian Townson, Lambeth & Southwark Unite Community.

28. Rob Marsden, Leicester UNISON Health

29. Alena Ivanova, Unite

30. John Medhurst, London GMB member

31. Tom Harris, PCS workplace rep.

32. Louis Bayman Southampton Uni UCU

33. Len Arthur UCU retired member

34. Andrew Coates, Chair Unite  LE/1860 (Suffolk)

35. Janine Booth, RMT Piccadilly & District West Branch, Trade Union Liaison Officer Hackney South and Shoreditch CLP 

36. Christie Neary, NEU

37. Tracy McGuire, Darlington NEU

38. Lisa Crane, Birmingham NEU

39. Alison Treacher, Secretary, Unite, Greater Manchester Social Action Branch NW389

40. Jamie Green, Membership Officer & Steward, UNISON at LSE

41. Sam Greenwood, Branch Labour Link officer, Wakefield District UNISON 

42. Matthias Kispert, IWGB

43. David Ball, workplace rep, Barnet Unison & Barnet NEU

44. Pat Markey, Secretary, Northampton District NEU

45. Kieran Miles, Unite

46. Stephen Wood, Night Tube Officer, Finsbury Park RMT

47. Charlie Hore, UNISON.

48. Sue Sparks, Unite

49. Maisie Sanders, Unite

50. Kelly Rogers, United Voices of the World union

51. Mike Thompson, Unite workplace rep

52. Dave Roberts, Leicester Unison

53. Brian Cairns, Wandsworth NEU Officer

54. Benj Eckford, GMB

55. Hazel Croft, Unison

56. George Buskell, Unite

57. Caroline Powls Unison

58. Gill George, Unite

59. John Stuttle, Father of the Unite chapel at the Guardian and Observer, Political Officer, Unite National Publishing and Media Branch

60. Susan Pashkoff, Chair, East London Unite Community

61. Amanda Bentham, workplace rep, Tower Hamlets NEU

62. Daniel Davison-Vecchione, Cambridge UCU

63. James Doig, workplace rep, NEU

64. Tim Cooper, Nottingham Unite Community

65. Belinda Washington, NEU & Unite

66. Kevin Saint, Unite

67. Martin Goodsell, Branch Secretary, East London Unite Community

68. Tim Martin, UCU

69. Gary Whiting, Branch Chair, Lambeth UNISON

70. Steve Eason, NUJ

71. Nik Barstow, Unite Greater Manchester Social Action Branch & Trafford TUC

72. Roland Rance, Treasurer, East London Unite Community

73. Robin Starey, Unite

74. Duncan Robinson, NEU

75. Andy Warren, PCS DWP London Region Young Members’ officer

76. Dave Parks, Devon County UNISON

77. Dave Kirk, Unite

78. Nalini Amichund, Workplace Rep, Croydon NEU

79. Bob Sutton, Unite Construction

80. Debbie Brown, Swindon NEU

81. Fiona Ogilvie, Unison

82. Suzanne Gannon, NEU

83. Gareth Murphy, Branch Secretary, Camden Unite Community Camden 

84. Alison Lord, UCU

85. Gill McCall, Unite Community

86. Paul O’Brien, Unite Community

87. Jeanette Fletcher, Unite Community

88. Ian Fletcher, Unite Community

89. Sam Gisagara, Equalities Officer, Camden Unite Community

90. Vino Sangarapillai, Camden UNISON

91. Terry Clarke, UCU

92. Roderick Cobley, Unite

93. Neil Rogall, UCU

94. Roger Welch, UCU

95. Richard Brenner, Unite

96. Fran Springfield, Lambeth UNISON

97. Roberto Mozzachiodi, UCU

98. Anne Cooper, Lambeth Unite Community

99. Juliet Sherratt, NEU

100. Jenny Cooper, Brent NEU

101. Jon Rogers, Lambeth UNISON

102. Lucy Cox, NEU

103. Linda Sayle, Camden Unite Community

104. Claudia Ferreira, Camden Unite Community

105. Andrea Egan, Bolton UNISON

106. Paul Renny, Schools Convenor, Haringey UNISON

107. Ryan Hebbs, Branch Political officer, Enfield GMB

108. Craig Farlow, Unite

109. Dan Rawnsley, Sheffield NEU

110. Steven Carver, Tower Hamlets Unite Community