The Unite union changed its constitution to allow civil disobedience in a vote at its rules conference in Brighton on Wednesday of last week.

Delegates voted overwhelmingly to delete the words “so far as may be lawful” from the union’s aims.

The amendment was unopposed, and moved by the union’s executive.

General secretary Len McCluskey’s slammed the government imposing class prejudice with repressive new anti-union laws.

Existing laws—which the Labour government did nothing to repeal—have been used to stop several strikes, including by British Airways cabin crew.

They’d voted by more than 90 percent for strikes on more than a 90 percent turnout.

This call from the top opens the door for activists in the union to try and turn those words into action.