Tolpuddle Festival 2026 – Restoring Trade Union Rights

On Sat 18th July, we’ll be teaming up with the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom once again for our annual Tolpuddle meeting, entitled ‘Forward to a Employment Rights Bill #2: Restore Trade Union Rights.’

Join us at Tolpuddle to make the call for trade union rights.

The Employment Rights Act passed last year is a good first step and introduces a number of important new rights for individual workers.

But it has done very little to restore rights for trade unions – our collective rights at work. There are three important topics that were set out in Labour’s Green Paper New Deal for Working People that have not made it into the new legislation:

• repeal the anti-union laws
• ensure that UK labour law is in compliance with international standards
• statutory support for sector wide collective bargaining.

We need a new framework of law at work that will once again ensure that trade unions have power in the workplace.

Join us in the call for an Employment Rights Bill #2

This is a joint Campaign for Trade Union Freedom and Institute of Employment Rights event, in association with Strike Map.

Details:

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival

Saturday 18th July, 2pm

Fringe Marquee (wristband essential)

Speakers:

• Eddie Dempsey – General Secretary, RMT
• John McDonnell MP
• Fran Heathcote – General Secretary, Public & Commercial Services Union
• Prof Keith Ewing – Campaign for Trade Union Freedom/Institute of Employment Rights
• Cristina loanitescu – General Secretary, App Drivers & Couriers Union
• Chair: Sarah Woolley – General Secretary, Bakers’ Food & Allied Workers’ Union

Join our Facebook event page here and invite others to join on the 18th July.