Hundreds in Bournemouth turn out for Trade Union Congress rally

Representatives from at least 10 unions, along with groups and supporters from the public, gathered in the square to display solidarity for those striking.

This follows the passing of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill through the House of Commons yesterday.

Speakers addressed the crowds from some of the unions present, including representatives from the National Education Union, University and College Union, Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen and Public and Commercial Services Union, all of which were striking today.

Figures from other unions, including Unison and the Communication Workers Union, and the Bournemouth Socialist Workers Student Society also spoke.

The message across the board was one of solidarity, and that the right to strike must be defended.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, the president of the BCP TUC, told the Daily Echo: “Today has been a fantastic turnout from trade unionists from across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and it shows that people are angry. They’re angry at the conditions that they’re having to live under.

“Their pay is not keeping up with inflation and the costs of living. Rather than addressing that, the government are trying to make it more difficult for those people to make a stand and to take strike action.”

The leader of the Labour group at BCP Council, George Farquhar, said that the message of the rally was clear.

“It’s a pleasure to come out here with the Trade Union Congress to see this organisation at a grassroots level,” he said.

“These are your neighbours, these are the workers, these are your friends.

“This fight is everybody’s fight.”

At the meeting, it was announced that the TUC would be holding a public meeting in Bournemouth in the summer, with Mick Lynch from the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.

Downing Street said the government must consider the wider affordability for UK tax payers in potential pay rises for public sector workers.

“I think it’s important for the public to understand that when unions understandably want more pay for their members, the government has to consider how those things are paid for, and across the board there are three main ways to do that, there are tax rises, there are borrowing and there are cuts,” the prime minister’s spokesperson said.

“And it’s those kind of considerations that a government, a responsible government, needs to consider.”