MPs & Trade Unionists Call for Justice for Mark Harding

MP's call for justice for RMT official Mark Harding as he faces imprisonment under UK anti-union laws

MP's call for justice for RMT official Mark Harding as he faces imprisonment under UK anti-union laws

MPs and trade union leaders have issued a statement calling for London Underground RMT Branch Official Mark Harding to receive a fair trial when he appears in court this Friday.

Mark is facing a prison sentence arising from his arrest on the picket line in relation to the London Underground dispute over ticket office closures. He has been charged under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

The MPs and trade union leaders say that they are “dismayed that the arrest appears to have political connotations in that Mr Harding was arrested by the use of trade union legislation and held in custody for 13 hours.”

The statement notes Mr Harding has empathically denied all charges and “is seen as a person of good character with years of service to his trade union and the wider community”

The statement calls on Mr Harding to receive a “fair trial and for the abolition of anti - trade union legislation that can allow for trade unionists to be treated in such a draconian and unfair manner.”

Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said;

“The entire membership of RMT stands alongside our comrade Mark Harding as he stands threatened with imprisonment under the UK’s draconian anti-trade union laws. The union welcomes the broader support from across the Labour and Trade Union movement for Mark’s fight for justice as his trial approaches.

“Mark was on a picket line, carrying out his normal trade union duties in support of RMT’s campaign to stop job cuts and ticket office closures on London Underground but as a result of the highly-politicised anti-union laws has been threatened with the loss of his liberty. His case, and his fight for justice, has severe implications for every single trade unionist in this country.”

Statement

“We are extremely concerned that longstanding RMT activist and Branch Secretary Mark Harding is facing a prison sentence arising from his arrest on the picket line in relation to the London Underground dispute.

We note that this dispute is connected with tube workers campaigning to protect passenger services and to stop the closure of all ticket offices.

We are dismayed that the arrest appears to have political connotations in that Mr Harding was arrested by the use of trade union legislation and held in custody for 13 hours.

We are appalled that the bail conditions imposed on Mr Harding required him to cease his London Underground trade union activity and this restriction was only lifted after the intervention of union lawyers who successfully argued the conditions were in contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights.

We further note that Mr Harding has emphatically denied all charges and is seen as a person of good character with years of service to his trade union and the wider community.

We call for Mr Harding to receive a fair trial and for the abolition of anti - trade union legislation that can allow for trade unionists to be treated in such a draconian and unfair manner.”

John McDonnell MP
Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary
Ian Lavery MP
Dave Anderson MP
Christine Blower, NUT General Secretary
Grahame Morris MP
Roger Godsiff MP
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary
Chris Williamson MP
Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Steve Murphy, UCATT General Secretary
Ian Davidson MP
Manuel Cortes TSSA General Secretary
Katy Clark MP
Mick Whelan, ASLEF General Secretary
Kelvin Hopkins MP
Jim Sheridan MP
Paul Flynn MP
Steve Gillan, POA General Secretary
Linda Riordan MP
Martin Caton MP
Michael Connarty MP
Bob Monks, URTU General Secretary
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ General Secretary
Ian Hodgson, BFAWU President
Ian Lawrence, NAPO General Secretary