#KillTheBill: A Day of Action in Reading

Reading Trades Union Council was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder will other protesters to say to the Government: "KILL THE BILL!"

On 17 January 2022, Reading Trades Union Council joined fellow trade unionists in Broad Street, Reading, for a day of action in the #KillTheBill protests. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is a blatant attempt to provide police forces with authoritarian powers, where the voices of ordinary people, particularly those most marginalised and disadvantaged, will be silenced by state-sanctioned penalties.

On the impetus of the People's Assembly's mobilisation of local actions around the country, Tanya Wills, James Parker and Kathy McCubbing (all members of Unite Community) joined Helen Caney, John Oversby (both of UCU) and Steve Snook and Sue Taylor (both of PCS) to raise awareness of the horrors of the bill.

Other protesters also assembled alongside RTUC, where placards and posters were displayed identifying the harm the bill would do to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. trade union and other protesters and even social events in the community.

The event raised awareness of the bill's draconian reach, through speeches and conversations with the passing public. It followed a series of earlier events throughout 2020 in Reading and around the country, pressuring parliamentarians to think again over the powers being bestowed upon the police by this bill and the civil liberties it will infringe.

A particular focus of attention is Clause 59 of the bill which would make it a crime to “intentionally or recklessly” cause public nuisance without a reasonable excuse and be punishable with a year in jail from magistrates or up to 10 years in the worst cases convicted at crown court. The bill would also expand stop and search powers and new laws against residing on land without authorisation with a vehicle would effectively criminalise Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Amendments added to the bill by the Government in the House of Lords in November 2021 make obstructing major transport works a criminal offence and would equip police with the power to ban named people from demonstrating.

As the bill continues to be debated in parliament, the protests will continue in the streets - aiming to humanise is illiberal tendencies or SEE IT THROWN OUT ENTIRELY!

RTUC joins Oxford Comrades to Protest the Nationality and Borders Bill

On 16 January 2022, Tanya Wills (Unite Community) represented Reading Trades Union Council in Oxford to protest against Priti Patel's Nationality and Borders Bill. The presence of RTUC's banner ensured solidarity was clearly seen with the trade unionists and other protesters in the City of Dreaming Spires.

Tanya joined the roster of speakers at the event, which included other trade unionists and representatives of student organisations, in a protest organised by Oxford Students' Union. The event took place outside the Clarendon Building and attracted approximately 70 people. Home-made placards with anti-racist and pro-immigrant statements were held aloft, ensuring the passing public received the message which was elaborated on in the speeches.

If passed into law, this bill will see British-born persons who have dual citizenship under threat of having their British citizenship revoked – without first being informed – at the whim of the Home Secretary. Even those without a second citizenship, who the government deem to be ‘linked’ to another country, would be at risk. This includes two-out-of-five minority ethnic people in Britain.

The bill epitomises ruling class hatred towards victims of war crimes and economic turmoil abroad, as well as disdain for minorities that consider themselves settled here in Britain. It is a continuation of racist policies that have unleashed fear and misery on minorities for decades.

The controversial Clause 9 of the bill – which was being debated in the House of Lords at the time of the protest – gives the government powers to revoke citizenship without any warning.

This bill, if passed, could endanger asylum seekers, revoke British citizenship without notifying the affected parties and, through the creation of a temporary protection status, “restrict the refugee students’ access to higher education”.

Remembering William Winterbourne: "Victim of Whiggery!"

On 11 January 2022, Reading Trades Union Council made the annual pilgrimage to Kintbury, West Berkshire, to remember the struggles of William Winterbourne. William's political career ended in execution on the walls of Reading Gaol on 11 January 1831 for his part in the Swing Riots of 1830.

Born in Kintbury in 1798, William led riots which involved agricultural labourers and others from across Berkshire and beyond whose livelihoods were threatened by the introduction of threshing machines, the payment of low wages and workers' oppressive treatment. The contemporary vicar of Kintbury, the Rev. Fulwar Craven Fowle, pleaded for Winterbourne's life but to no avail. Unusually for a hanged person, William's body was returned to Kintbury and buried in the churchyard - though under the pseudonym of "William Smith".

Each year, the local Kintbury community comes together with trade unionists from the region to mark the day of execution. Speaking on behalf of Reading Trades Union Council as vice-president, Tanya Wills (chair of Unite Community BOB Branch) gave an oration (see embedded video), presenting William's actions in the context of today's hardships and oppressions. Alongside Tanya was Keith Jerrome, also of Unite Community, representing Reading Trades Union Council.