Bar to hold protest led by worker (8)
I believe the answer is:
handrail
'bar to hold' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'protest led by worker' is the wordplay.
'protest' becomes 'rail' (I've seen this before).
'led by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'worker' becomes 'hand' (hand is a kind of worker).
'rail' put after 'hand' is 'HANDRAIL'.
(Other definitions for handrail that I've seen before include "something to hold on to" , "Supporting bar" , "Support beside stairs" , "one often found under palms" , "support on stair" .)