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Union body says it will fight new anti-strike
legislation “every step of the way”
The TUC will hold a national ‘protect the right to strike’ day on
Wednesday 1 February.
The announcement comes following a meeting of trade union leaders
today.
Events will take place in different parts of the country against
the Conservative’s new anti-strike legislation.
And members of the public will be invited to show their support
for workers taking action to defend their pay and conditions.
More information will be provided in the coming weeks about
planned activities.
The TUC has vowed to fight the new strike curbs “every step of
the way” - including through parliament and the courts.
The union body says the government’s new anti-strike plans are
unworkable and almost certainly in breach of international law.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty – but the
government is attacking it in broad daylight.
“These draconian new curbs will tilt the balance of power even
more in favour of bad bosses and make it harder for people to win
better pay and conditions.
“Nobody should lose their job if they take lawful action to win a
better deal. But ministers have gone from clapping our key
workers to threatening them with the sack.
“Unions will fights these plans every step of the way – including
through parliament and through the courts.
“On February the 1st will we hold events across the
country against this spiteful new bill – which is unworkable and
almost certainly illegal.
“We will call on the general public to show support for workers
taking action to defend their pay and conditions, to defend our
public services and to protect the fundamental right to strike.”
On the need for the government to follow the example of the
private sector, Paul Nowak added:
“The government should be following the example of many employers
in the private sector who have sat down with unions and agreed
fair pay deals.
“But instead ministers are drawing up plans that will succeed
only in escalating disputes and driving workers away from wanting
to work in our public services.”
TUC polling published in last year revealed that 1 in 3 public
servants were taking active steps to leave their professions.
Analysis published by the union body shows:
- Nurses have lost £42,000 in real earnings since 2008 – the
equivalent of £3,000 a year
- Midwives have lost £56,000 in real earnings since 2008 – the
equivalent of £4,000 a year
- Paramedics have lost £56,000 in real earnings since 2008 –
the equivalent of £4,000 a year
And if the government does not improve its pay offer for public
servants, public sector pay will fall, on average, by over £100 a
month in real terms in 2023.
