A mass demonstration and bin lorry drive by is taking place to show support for three arrested union workers.
GMB union members Gary Palmer, Declan MacIntyre and Carl Turner are accused of blocking bin lorries from leaving a depot during a bin strike in May last year.
They pleaded not guilty at a hearing in June and will be appearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning.
They claimed their actions on the picket line were lawful and are a “freedom of expression”, saying they have a “freedom of protest”.
Bin lorries will be driving past the court at around 9.30am.
Mark Turner, GMB branch secretary, said: “The continuation of the case against the ‘GMB three’ is frankly a waste of public money.
“All those who believe in human rights, the right to freedom of assembly and protest should be watching this case closely.
“It is a blatant attempt by employers and the state to remove the rights of those who wish to protest.
“The ‘GMB three’ robustly deny the allegations against them.
“The way to resolve industrial disputes is for employers to take their employees concerns seriously and negotiate meaningfully with the GMB.
“Heavy-handed tactics to use the law to stifle this sort of peaceful protest resolves nothing.
“We look forward to the case finally coming to court on Friday and hope that the right to protest and assembly is protected.”
Palmer, MacIntyre and Turner were arrested outside the Amberstone Road depot in Hailsham during the Wealden bin strike by Biffa staff.
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Police made three arrests after they “repeatedly asked those involved to clear the highway”. They allegedly failed to comply and were arrested for obstructing the highway.
The defendants claim the arrests happened after three bin lorries driven by “strike breakers and agency staff” attempted to go past the picket line.
There was a show of solidarity at Hastings Magistrates’ Court last June.
Wealden bin strike was called off on June 14 last year after workers for Biffa were offered up to a 27 per cent pay rise.
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