| W.E.U Admin | Workplace Wellbeing
“The Workers of England Union has always unconditionally defended our members’ right to express themselves on issues they feel strongly and passionately about. While free expression and speech comes with responsibility, the Workers of England Union believes employers often fail to respect this right.
The Workers of England Union has repeatedly won workplace disciplinaries where members were treated unfairly because of expressing their personal beliefs. The following series of articles will highlight why protecting freedom of expression and speech is vital and why employers must do better in understanding it.”
— Stephen Morris, General Secretary, Workers of England Union
Introducing the Freedom of Speech Series
- What is Freedom of Speech?
- Why Free Speech Matters for Democracy
- Free Speech and the Workplace: A Trade Union Perspective
- The Boundaries of Free Speech: Rights and Responsibilities
- Global Challenges: How Free Speech is Under Threat
- Defending Free Speech Together: The Role of Trade Unions
Article 1: What is Freedom of Speech and the WEU view?
What Do We Mean by Freedom of Speech?
Freedom of speech is one of the most important rights in a democratic society. At its core, it means that people have the right to express opinions, share information, and engage in debate without fear of censorship, punishment, or intimidation. It is the principle that allows ordinary working people to question authority, expose wrongdoing, and take part in shaping society.
When someone writes to their MP, shares a news story online, or joins a protest, they are exercising this right. It ensures that public life is not shaped only by those with wealth or power but by everyone. Without it, democracy is hollow, because our people need to be able to speak freely without fear.
Our Legal Right
International law recognises freedom of expression as a fundamental right. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) sets it out clearly, and in Europe, Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000) guarantees the right to hold opinions, receive information, and communicate ideas without interference from public authorities.
Importantly, English Common Law is the root of our traditions and a source of our civil liberties and also, the Equality Act 2010 can be useful weapon, if properly used, to fight for freedom of speech.
Why It Matters for Democracy
Free speech is not just about being able to say what you like; it is about creating the conditions for a functioning democracy. It allows people to:
- Hold leaders to account by asking difficult questions and demanding honest answers.
- Seek the truth by exposing corruption, injustice, and government failures.
- Shape society through protest, campaigning, and public discussion.
History shows that when free speech is curtailed, corruption flourishes, abuse of power spreads, and ordinary people lose their voice.
More Than Just Polite Words
Importantly, free speech does not only protect polite or popular opinions. It also protects views that are controversial, unpopular, or critical of the state. Without this genuine diversity of voices, society becomes narrow, intolerant, and stagnant.
For true Trade Unionists such as the Workers of England Union (WEU), freedom of speech is not abstract, it is essential. Workers would never have won fair pay, safe workplaces, or the right to organise if people had not spoken out against powerful employers and corrupt and unfair governments. The beginning of the Trade Union movement itself is living proof of the power of free expression.
A Right Under Pressure
Around the world today, free speech is under threat. In some countries, governments restrict it openly by jailing activists and censoring journalists. Elsewhere, the threats are quieter but no less dangerous: surveillance, intimidation, or restrictive workplace policies.
Some Media outlets are now highlighting the countries with the highest number of arrests for online comments and in 2023 they put the United Kingdom top of the list with 12,183 arrests. The following countries taking their respective places are;- Belarus: 6,205 Germany: 3,500 China: 1,500 Turkey: 500 Russia: 400 Poland: 300 Thailand: 258 Brazil: 200 Syria: 146 India: 100 Iran: 100 France: 54 USA: 50 Vietnam: 45 Egypt: 20 Saudi Arabia: 15 Azerbaijan: 13 Hungary: 10.
It feels hard to believe but more people are arrested for free speech in the UK than in the rest of the world. However, people across England are now beginning to realise that the UK government is against their right to freedom of speech.
In the UK, too many employers treat staff unfairly for views expressed and Trade Unions like the Workers of England Union step in to professionally defend our members. Sadly, many other organisations fail their members in this regard but the WEU has not forgotten the origins of the Trade Union movement and we will stand up for people when others will not. The Workers of England Union is genuinely fighting against suppression of freedom of speech.
Why We Must Defend It
Defending free speech is about more than protecting individual opinions. It is about building a society where truth can flourish, where power is held to account, and where working people can organise without fear. For the WEU, defending this right is not optional, it is part of our very purpose.
References
(Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 (1948), Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Article 11 (2000), European Court of Human Rights, case law on freedom of expression, Workers of England Union, disciplinary case records (internal).
This Article is Tagged under:
Democracy, Freedom of Speech, WEU Campaign, Legal Rights
