30.01.2023 | IG Metall Berlin supports the call for a rally on Wednesday, February 1st 2023, at 4 p.m. in front of the British Embassy in Berlin (Wilhelmstraße 70/71, 10117 Berlin).
On February 1st, teachers, train drivers, university and public sector employees in Great Britain will go on strike for better working conditions and higher wages. February 1st is also a day of protest against proposed anti-strike legislation in the UK. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has launched a massive attack on the right to strike. He wants to restrict the right to strike in Great Britain for employees in the health, fire brigade and education sectors.
"The right to strike is a fundamental right that must not be questioned," said Jan Otto, chief representative of IG Metall Berlin. "That's why we show solidarity with our colleagues in Great Britain and support the call for a rally in front of the British Embassy.”
British Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has launched a massive attack on the right to strike. He wants to introduce far-reaching restrictions on the right to strike for workers in public services like health, fire and rescue services and education. Some of the workers can be forced to work and sacked if they don’t!
Strike action is one of the fundamental means available to defend our interests as workers. In the current crisis with price increases for food, heating or electricity, we can only defend ourselves if we are organized and if we collectively fight for our demands, especially with strikes. In Germany, the right to strike is restrictive, because in the prevailing case law strikes are considered illegal if they are a) not called by a union and b) if the damands cannot be represented in a collective agreement.
Furthermore in Germany, too, like in the UK, there have already been attempts by conservatives to restrict the right to strike in certain sectors, such as the railroads. We are committed to a comprehensive right to strike and stand in solidarity with workers in whatever country who are fighting for the right to strike.
On February 1, 2023, teachers, train drivers, university and Civil Service workers in the UK will strike for better working conditions and higher wages. February 1 is also a day of protest against the planned anti-strike laws.
The Right to Strike is a human right, any restriction of this right is an attack on us and our democratic rights. We must resolutely reject this attack by those in power! We stand in solidarity with the workers in the United Kingdom and their fight for the right to strike!
Rally | 1st February 2023 | 4 pm | British Embassy | Wilhelmstraße 70/71 | 10117 Berlin
Read more: #RECHTAUFSTREIK – Blog der Kampagne für ein umfassendes Streikrecht (noblogs.org)