AGAINST AUTHORITARIAN ARRESTS, FOR THE RIGHT TO PROTEST-Submitted by Bakerloo Branch

This regional council notes:

1.⁠ ⁠In late June this year, RMT member JB was arrested unexpectedly by eight police officers at his home at 9am for “conspiracy to cause disruption on national infrastructure”.

2.⁠ ⁠J was held in custody for eight hours, and had his phone and laptop seized.

3.⁠ Numerous other climate activists associated with the group Just Stop Oil (JSO) were also arrested.

4.⁠ ⁠“Conspiracy to cause disruption on national infrastructure” can mean simply attending a meeting where protesting at airports is discussed.

5.⁠ ⁠The arrested climate activists are on bail, with conditions that they don’t: go near an airport; encourage anyone to protest an airport; go to a meeting about protests at airports; or be within a group of people that could be “reasonably construed” as planning a protest at an airport.

6.⁠ The bail conditions have prevented JSO activists from organising basic activity.

This region further notes:

1. RMT policy on climate change, supporting a worker-led transition to a zero-carbon economy, including a transition to renewables for workers in the energy sector.

This region believes:

1.⁠ These pre-emptive, mass arrests are authoritarian and part of a wider clampdown against the right to protest.

2.⁠ No-one should be arrested simply for attending meetings.

3. The labour movement must be at the forefront of efforts to defend and extend civil liberties, including stronger protections for the right to protest and strike.

This region resolves:

1.⁠ To condemn the mass arrests.

2. To ensure appropriate support, including legal assistance, is provided to any RMT members affected by such arrests.

3. To continue to participate in campaigning to demand the repeal of recent legislation, such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act (2022), which restricts the right to protest, including by mobilising RMT members to attend demonstrations on this issue.