David Cameron strike reform plans are wiping away 200 years

[TrueBlueTerrier]

David Cameron strike reform plans are wiping away 200 years of workers' rights

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David Cameron is turning the clock back on nearly 200 years of workers’ rights and liberties, the leader of Britain’s union movement has said.

Frances O’Grady accuses the PM’s milllionaire Tory ministers of behaving like “modern day country squires” over their plans for hardline anti strike laws.

Her attack comes as union members remember the sacrifice made by the Tolpuddle Martyrs - six Dorset farm workers locked up and transported to Australia after their rich landowner complained about them forming a union in 1834.

The TUC general secretary says the Government wants to hand employers a free hand to hold down wages and worsen terms and conditions for millions of workers.

She said: “This is not just a threat to workers’ rights but to the civil liberites of people in this country.

“The Tories are turning the clock back on workers’ rights and basic freedoms.”

Under the Trade Unions Bill, published last week, minimum turnouts will be set for strike ballots, with unions needing at least 50 per cent for any action to be legal.

And in the public sector, 40 per cent of those eligible to vote would have to support a walkout before it could go ahead - current rules require a simple majority of those who vote, as in local and general elections.


But unions leaders gathering at their annual festival to commemorate the Tolpuddle Martyrs this weekend fear the legislation is only part of a major new crackdown on the right to strike.

Ms O’Grady said: “Squire James Frampton, the man who got them sent Down Under, feared that workers organising themselves threatened the power of employers and landowners and called on the full might of the law to silence them.

“He would have loved last week’s Bill. It is a modern day masterclass in punishing working people and their unions for standing up for their rights.”

The Tories are also consulting on bringing in changes to make industrial action action more difficult in a blatant attempt to tie unions up in legal red tape and silence protests.

These include forcing unions to give authorities 14 days’ advance warning on whether they will be using loudspeakers and banners and if they are setting up a Facebook or Twitter account and detailing what these messages will say.

Employers will be able to take legal action to stop strikes taking place if a union organiser on a picket line fails to wear a designated armband. Fines can be up to £20,000 per offence.


In a further clampdown on union freedoms, they could be fined for failing to publish their plans in advance and using social media during strike action.

The TUC’s own polling since the May election shows that voters by more than two to one think the Government should be more positive about trade unions.

Ms O’Grady said: “The Government is determined to shift the balance of power in the workplace and give bosses the whip hand during disputes.


It hasn’t taken long for the Conservatives to show their nasty side again. Last week’s Trades Union Bill is an unnecessary and unfair attack on people’s rights at work and civil liberties.

Rather than dealing with zero-hours contracts, the lack of decent jobs and rip-off rents, the Tories want to pick on union members – midwives, factory workers, shop assistants and firefighters.

The Government is determined to shift the balance of power in the workplace and give bosses the whip hand during disputes.

You don’t have to be in a union to be hit. The pay deals unions agree often set the going rate for workers in many industries.

And the health and safety agreements they negotiate help keep millions of us safe.

The Tories are turning the clock back on workers’ rights and our basic freedoms.

Squire James Frampton – the man who had the Tolpuddle Martyrs sent to Australia – feared that workers organising themselves threatened the power of employers and landowners and called on the full might of the law to silence them.

He would have loved last week’s bill. It is a modern day masterclass in punishing working people and their unions for standing up for their rights.

It is vital that we all come together to oppose it.

The Tory masterplan to smash union power
Strike ballots to have minimum turnout of 50 per cent to be legal
Public sector strikes woud need 40 per cent backing of ballot
Unions would have to give 14 days’ notice before using banners, loudspeakers, or even setting up a Facebook or Twitter account. They must also outline what these would say
Union organisers on picket lines must wear an armband or they can be fined
Unions would also be fined £20,000 for using social media during strike action – and again if they don’t publish plans in advance
Employers would be allowed to use agency workers to break strikes, which was banned in 1973

[motherhubbard]

The Tory masterplan to smash union power
1.Strike ballots to have minimum turnout of 50 per cent to be legal
2.Public sector strikes woud need 40 per cent backing of ballot
3.Unions would have to give 14 days’ notice before using banners, loudspeakers, or even setting up a Facebook or Twitter account. They must also outline what these would say
4.Union organisers on picket lines must wear an armband or they can be fined
5.Unions would also be fined £20,000 for using social media during strike action – and again if they don’t publish plans in advance
6.Employers would be allowed to use agency workers to break strikes, which was banned in 1973

I don't see anything wrong with 1 and 2. A union should view this as a positive thing as it is an incentive to educate and involve their workforce. What else do they exist for?
3 and 5 are to do with social media. So what? The Tolpuddle Martyrs didn't need Facebook and neither do we.
4. Forced to wear an arm band? Good. Everyone should know who is legally responsible for the picket line. It is hardly a yellow star.
6. Now there is something worth fighting.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think 3 and 4 are about controlling the message and very "1984" Group think. Its also patently unfair if the Businesses are allowed to post/brief Anti Union or Anti Strike Propaganda when Unions aren't.

Face-book and Twitter, and this site were very good for disseminating information between pickets lines so not using them is likely to have a deleterious effect on support for the cause, but then thats Tories idea isn't it.

[dvbuk55]

You don't need the Tories to sign away the right to strike the leadership managed that all by themselves in all but name.

[Midnight+13]

You don't need the Tories to sign away the right to strike the leadership managed that all by themselves in all but name.