In January 1984, civil service staff working at the Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham were banned from holding trade union membership. The International Labour Organisation condemned the ban but, after a long legal battle, the House of lords decided for the Government and the first sackings of trade union members started in November 1988. On 28 January 1989, over 10,000 people marched through Cheltenham to protest the continuation of the ban.
Following the May 1997 General Election, the new Labour Government lifted the ban on trade union membership at GCHQ and, in September, the first of the sacked trade unionists returned to work. In January 1999, the Government recognised the injustice of their treatment and agreed to pay the workers compensation for their unfair dismissal.
| Title |
GCHQ Demonstration, Cheltenham, 1989 |
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| Maker |
-- |
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| Production Date |
1989 |
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| Format |
Photograph |
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| Copyright |
John Harris / www.reportdigital.co.uk
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| Holding Institution |
TUC Library Collections, London Metropolitan University |
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| Related Objects |
GCHQ Day, November 1988
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