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Strikes bill back in the Commons today
(Wednesday)
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UN workers’ rights watchdog slaps down UK government
over its anti-union drive
The TUC has today (Wednesday) called for an urgent rethink from
government on plans to sack workers for exercising their right to
strike.
The call comes as the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill
returns to the Commons – after another defeat in the Lords as
peers voted for amendments to stop workers being sacked for
striking.
If passed without the amendment, the Bill will mean that when
workers lawfully vote to strike in health, education, fire,
transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning, they
could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply.
The union body says the UK will become “an international outlier”
if the Bill is passed.
The UK’s actions have already come under scrutiny from
international organisations. Last week, the UN workers’ rights
watchdog, the ILO, slapped down the UK
government over its anti-union agenda and demanded it respect
international law.
1 in 5 workers
The TUC is calling for the draconian Strikes Bill to be scrapped
in its entirety.
The union body says that the right to strike of a massive 1 in 5
workers in Britain is at risk because of the Bill.
That means 5.5 million workers in England, Scotland and Wales
could be affected by the legislation.
The EHRC recently warned that the legislation could see all
striking workers in affected sectors losing their unfair
dismissal protection as whole strikes could be deemed illegal.
The Bill will give ministers the power to impose new minimum
service levels through regulation – but MPs have been given few
details on how minimum service levels are intended to
operate.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“Today, MPs on all sides must stand up for working people and for
our fundamental right to strike.
“No one should be sacked for trying to win a better deal at work.
“That’s why peers have done the right thing and voted to stop
nurses, teachers, firefighters and other public sector workers
getting sacked for exercising their right to strike.
“Politicians, employers and rights groups are all queuing up to
condemn this spiteful Bill.
“It’s time for an urgent rethink – ministers must ditch these
pernicious plans and protect the right to strike.”
