Wages not Weapons: Trade unions overturn support for military spending hikes

British trade unionists, in a very significant vote, have backed a motion overturning previous support for the government’s military spending hikes. The Wages not Weapons motion was proposed by the UCU union, and supported by unions including the RMT, NEU, CWU, FBU, and PCS. It was passed at Tuesday’s TUC Congress by 2,871,000 votes to 2,291,000. 

This sends a strong message to the Starmer government to change direction away from its disastrous war drive, and instead to take a new approach that prioritises real common and human security – investing in saving lives not destroying them.

Key to shaping this motion was the CND and the RMT union. CND thanks all those who helped secure yesterday’s victory and are proud that the ADR helped inform the debate.

You can read more about the vote here. You can also watch CND Vice-President Alex Gordon report back from TUC Congress about the historic decision on CND’s Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok. Please share.

Three important demonstrations are taking place in London this evening, Wednesday 10 September

Tonight join the emergency demonstrations taking place in central London as the Palestine Coalition follows Israeli president Isaac Herzog around London, including a speech due to be given at Chatham House followed by a meeting with Keir Starmer at Downing Street. Rather than rolling out the red carpet for this war criminal president, Britain should be issuing an arrest warrant for Herzog for his role in justifying genocide. 

• Emergency demo 1 – 5.30pm, Chatham House, 10 St James’s Square, SW1Y 4LE
• Emergency demo 2 – 7pm, Downing Street

For those able to get to east London, there will be a protest outside the DSEI arms fair from 5pm, where protesters will be welcoming arms dealers with a wall of noise from pots and pan. Despite their role in arming Israel’s genocide, Israeli weapons manufacturers have been welcomed with open arms to DSEI, to showcase weapons that have been “battle tested” on the Palestinian people.

• 5pm
• ExCell London, Western Gateway, E16 1AU. More details here

Kick out Trump’s nukes: more transport options to RAF Lakenheath, 20 September 

Have you booked your transport to the upcoming Kick out Trump’s nukes demonstration at RAF Lakenheath? More coaches are now being arranged, with transport from -q_qt1MsGz-J9GRDw5NrnxBiNzzGVVQDIkxVS596G3upCALIG8CUjC-dD-nTNlbtcb3UrtG9HR7O5FnTldPDtAFfc93Icr0l492U59YCw5mUsZrSQxWh0QYqFrUF1N1mrZWJ9ox8VsIL-AmN3ERJKuTMfIZi4ealWVK53CPheXp6A9EqNJ_ry1DZTJTRj-dBVq6aPzOEjnN9QFqHIENq7gza63/4js/BKT364V7R0-Djlf_KTpuzw/h8/h001.YGpjFym9aBs6vCq27spa_5SgUPys2c7BGWcT7H69uUA”>here.

For those coming via rail to Brandon, a shuttle bus will also transfer you from the train station to the air base, starting from 12.30pm. Email [email protected]if you want to avail of this service.

Please note that there will only be very basic facilities at the base so please take this into consideration on your way to the action.

March Against Fascism, Saturday 13 September

The war-mongering rhetoric of this government to justify huge increases in military spending is strengthening a toxic combination of intolerance and militaristic patriotism. This is fuelling the dangerous rise of the far right.

CND is supporting Saturday’s ‘march against fascism’ demonstration in London, organised by Stand Up to Racism and backed by dozens of trade unions and civil society organisations. 

Saturday, 13 September

• Assemble 12 noon, Russell Square, London
• Coach options from around the country can be found here

Trump not welcome! Join the protests against his state visit 

Keir Starmer plans to welcome Donald Trump to Britain next week. Ahead of our demonstration against US nukes at RAF Lakenheath, join us in London on Wednesday 17 September where we’ll be bringing our Kick Out Trump’s nukes message to the street of London as part of the Stand Up To Trump march and rally. More details