GCHQ - 25 years on the fight continues

Lynn Henderson

Socialists in Scotland and throughout the world celebrated Robert Burns’ 250th anniversary on 25 January 2009. On the same day there was another important anniversary in our movement. It was 25 years since the ban on trade union rights at GCHQ and it was commemorated by the unveiling of a plaque in the Scottish TUC centre to honour the struggle against the ban and the successful battle to restore trade union rights.

The GCHQ trade union campaign began after the decision by the Conservative government in January 1984 to ban unions at the GCHQ (Government Communications Head Quarters) intelligence gathering centre in Cheltenham. The foreign secretary announced to a shocked House of Commons that independent unions would be banned from GCHQ. The TUC, Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU), the leaders of all opposition parties, and MPs from all parties erupted in indignant anger at this declaration.

In the short period between the announcement and the implementation of the ban on 1 March 1984, the entire labour movement joined forces in opposition. The level of solidarity, particularly from trade union members in those areas unconnected with the civil service or even the public sector, was a great source of encouragement to their counterparts in GCHQ. A determined group of 150 union members steadfastly refused to give up their rights. They became known as the “GCHQ trade unionists”. Four years later 14 workers were dismissed because of their refusal to resign their union membership.

The GCHQ trade unionists remained at the forefront of the campaigning the length and breadth of the country. It became one of the most important trade union issues during the 1980s and 1990s, with annual marches in January through Cheltenham until the ban was lifted after the election of a Labour Government.

Mike Grindley, one of the sacked trade unionists said: “We are all very proud of having been at the heart of the GCHQ trade unions campaign, and of having fought for the fundamental trade union rights to which everyone is entitled. We express our gratitude to all, both here and abroad, who have given us steadfast support since 1984.”

The STUC plaque commemorates the struggle and importantly links this with the ongoing struggle to restore trade union freedoms in this country and internationally. It was unveiled at a gathering of activists addressed by Grahame Smith, STUC general secretary; Hugh Lanning, PCS deputy general secretary – a founding member of the GCHQ struggle and Campbell Christie, former trade union leader of SCPS as well as former general secretary of the STUC. GCHQ had several stations in Scotland including Hawklaw in Fife and Brora in Sutherland. Hugh Lanning said: “This was all about a group of trade union members – men and women who were prepared to fight for what was right.” Campbell Christie recalled: “If it hadn’t been for the workers at GCHQ, Thatcher’s anti-trade union onslaught would have been even more vicious than it was. We still have a long way to go to win back our freedoms.”

The Left in remembering GCHQ should not forgot that the Trade Union Freedom Bill is the policy of both the Labour Party and the TUC. During the debate on the Employment Bill John McDonnell MP moved amendments based on the Trade Union Freedom Bill. It provoked the biggest rebellion since Gordon Brown became Labour leader, with 45 Labour MPs rebelling.

The United Campaign on trade union freedom believes the current anti-trade union laws introduced by the Conservatives between 1979 and 1995 must be repealed. These laws are repressive and illegal and should be replaced with a framework of positive rights. Tony Blair wrote on 31st March 1997, the changes his Government introduced "would leave British law the most restrictive on trade unions in the western world." Believe him in this.

Labour laws now are worse than they were over 100 years ago. And changes in the world of work - with the fragmentation of organisations and the growth of non-standard work contracts - mean that the situation has continued to deteriorate for working people over the 25 years.

We need laws which will protect trade unions from legal attacks, allow them to operate democratically and protect their members; laws which restore and extend collective bargaining, give each worker the right to strike and be represented by a union, protect workers against exploitation and provide the basis for a fairer and more just society.

Lynn Henderson, PCS Scotland political officer (personal capacity)