A RAIL union organiser told May Day celebrations that he was forced to hand the contents of his mobile phone to bosses before a 24-hour strike by Northern Rail workers.

RMT regional organiser Craig Johnston told the Newcastle march and rally on Saturday that employers are using new anti-union laws to access the phones and computers of activists and full-time organisers.

He said he had to hand the contents of his phone to bosses ahead of Friday’s 24-hour strike against the privateer’s attempt to remove safety-critical guards from trains.

Employers can seek a court order instructing union members to reveal the contents of their electronic devices to employers to check whether they have organised illegal “secondary action.”

Mr Johnston was required to do so following an agreement between solicitors representing the union and Northern Rail. “It is ludicrous,” he said.

“The employers have the right to download information from phones and computers, even personal phones.” He said the right was introduced by the new Trade Union Act, which came into force on March 1.

The Newcastle May Day event was one of dozens of marches, rallies and demonstrations supported by thousands of trade unionists in towns and cities across Britain over the last two days.

A weekend of activities took place in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, where a “May Day Festival of Solidarity” included a rally and a concert featuring The Men They Couldn’t Hang and Joe Solo, raising money for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign.

In Manchester, a festival was dedicated to the memory of Martin Larkham, secretary of Oldham Trades Council, who died last year after a long illness.

Manchester TUC president Alex Davidson said: “This is a trade union city. We come together on May Day to celebrate our movement — and fight back.”

Events taking place today include a rally in Trafalgar Square where Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Marl Serwotka will speak.

He told the Morning Star: “With International Workers’ Day falling on a bank holiday, it’s the opportunity for our members, their friends and families to join the celebrations of our triumphs and remember past struggles.

“With the general election just a few weeks away, it is an important day where workers can come together to highlight the damage the Tories’ austerity agenda is having on our public services and communities.”