Change strike ballot rules, think tank urges

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11269404" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ballot rules should be changed so it is tougher for unions to call strike action, a think tank has said.

The Policy Exchange suggests 40% of trade union members in a workforce should be required to vote for a strike for it to be valid.

The law currently states that a simple majority of voting union members is sufficient.

Business group the CBI welcomed the report, but the TUC claimed it was "a crude attack on workplace rights".

The think tank also called for employers to be allowed to use agency staff to cover strike action, and for the period of protection from dismissal during a strike to be reduced from 12 weeks to eight weeks.
'Politically motivated'

Information about the length of any action should be spelled out in ballot papers and the period of notice before a strike should be increased, it added.

Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's policy director, said: "We have seen a number of high profile strikes in recent times.

"There is speculation we're heading into a new era of industrial unrest.

"I'm worried you get a small number of politically motivated people who are not just organising strikes for their own members - there is an agenda."

He continued: "If you get people not taking part in the ballot you get a small number of politically motivated people pushing something which is incredibly damaging.

"London was crippled by the Tube strike."


Ed Holmes, co-author of the report, added that taxpayer funding of unions was "extensive, and often hidden" and called for "greater transparency".

Welcoming the report, John Cridland, deputy director-general of the CBI, said union reform was long overdue.

Many employers were working with unions and other staff representatives to bring about improvements in the workplace, he argued.

Mr Cridland said: "With public sector cuts imminent, the bar needs to be raised for industrial action. This would help ensure that ordinary people do not have to endure the kind of disruption we saw during this week's London Underground strike."

But Sarah Veale, the TUC's head of equalities and employment rights, said: "What these right-wing policy wonks in their nostalgia for the divisive years of Mrs Thatcher don't understand is that unions do not just benefit their members, but employers and wider society too.
'Profoundly undemocratic'

"If they got out a bit more they would find that unions give employees a voice, deal with problems before they turn into disputes or end up in tribunals, and allow change to be negotiated."

Ms Veale added: "The 40% proposal would be profoundly undemocratic because you would be saying people who abstained voted no.

"If people abstain they are not voting no - they are often not there or they don't feel like voting."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said it was not a coincidence that the "concerted attack on workers' rights" came as government "prepared to unleash unprecedented cuts".

"They want to clamp down on workplace rights because they know full well that the unions will be the main point of resistance to the government's austerity agenda," he said.

[fishtank]

T: 0207 340 2651
neil.obrien@policyexchange.org.uk

Neil O’Brien is the Director of Policy Exchange.

He was previously director of Open Europe, a cross-party think tank working for free market reform in Europe.

Neil grew up in Huddersfield , West Yorkshire, and took a first in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, at Christ Church, Oxford. His interests include economic reform and social policy

I bet you're proud TBT..

[Straight4ward]

The Policy Exchange suggests 40% of trade union members in a workforce should be required to vote for a strike for it to be valid.

Perhaps 40% of the electorate should be required to vote for a political party before it can form a government. - - - - - - - - No, thought not.

[BELIAL]

Yet more nutty chancers . "policy exchange" so far off the nutty political scale ,even Cameron called them "insane" mind you that chinless apology pipsqueak Gove thinks they are the Bees Knees

[pinstripe]

If the Union needed 40% to vote yes to take IA, would they still need 40% to accept an agreement?
What would happen if 50% didn't vote YES to accept it, would we still be on strike? Or are the proposed changes of benefit only to employers? Thought so.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

T: 0207 340 2651
neil.obrien@policyexchange.org.uk

Neil O’Brien is the Director of Policy Exchange.

He was previously director of Open Europe, a cross-party think tank working for free market reform in Europe.

Neil grew up in Huddersfield , West Yorkshire, and took a first in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, at Christ Church, Oxford. His interests include economic reform and social policy

I bet you're proud TBT..

Well I know what he looks like now - better not see him in a dark alley as I am not sure HMP Wakefield has Broadband
Smarmy get aint he.

[norwichchris]

Filthy strike breakers will be rubbing their hands in anticipation!

[rmdriver]

Who funds these "STINK TANKS" to come up with such sh*t ? Please don't tell me it's the good old gullible tax payer.

[fishtank]

Who funds these "STINK TANKS" to come up with such sh*t ? Please don't tell me it's the good old gullible tax payer.

Here at Policy Exchange we are very proud that our ideas have impact and that our research consistently makes headlines, influences the national debate and has its recommendations adopted into policy. But as a registered charity we are entirely reliant on voluntary contributions to continue our work.

The vast majority of our support comes from committed individuals. They want to ensure that there is an intelligent, informed debate at the highest levels and we believe that the greatest benefit of getting involved with Policy Exchange is participating in the democratic process.

I can just imagine where their "donations" come from....Sir Chinless of Wonder and Lord Inbred of Neverworked..etc..and the CBI of course.

[mdm]

I'll tell tou what O'Brien, lets go the whole way and just make striking illegal! I'm sure you'd love that, f***ing knobjockey

[mountec1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11269404

Ballot rules should be changed so it is tougher for unions to call strike action, a think tank has said.

The Policy Exchange suggests 40% of trade union members in a workforce should be required to vote for a strike for it to be valid.

The law currently states that a simple majority of voting union members is sufficient.

Business group the CBI welcomed the report, but the TUC claimed it was "a crude attack on workplace rights".

The think tank also called for employers to be allowed to use agency staff to cover strike action, and for the period of protection from dismissal during a strike to be reduced from 12 weeks to eight weeks.
'Politically motivated'

Information about the length of any action should be spelled out in ballot papers and the period of notice before a strike should be increased, it added.

Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's policy director, said: "We have seen a number of high profile strikes in recent times.

"There is speculation we're heading into a new era of industrial unrest.

"I'm worried you get a small number of politically motivated people who are not just organising strikes for their own members - there is an agenda."

He continued: "If you get people not taking part in the ballot you get a small number of politically motivated people pushing something which is incredibly damaging.

"London was crippled by the Tube strike."


Ed Holmes, co-author of the report, added that taxpayer funding of unions was "extensive, and often hidden" and called for "greater transparency".

Welcoming the report, John Cridland, deputy director-general of the CBI, said union reform was long overdue.

Many employers were working with unions and other staff representatives to bring about improvements in the workplace, he argued.

Mr Cridland said: "With public sector cuts imminent, the bar needs to be raised for industrial action. This would help ensure that ordinary people do not have to endure the kind of disruption we saw during this week's London Underground strike."

But Sarah Veale, the TUC's head of equalities and employment rights, said: "What these right-wing policy wonks in their nostalgia for the divisive years of Mrs Thatcher don't understand is that unions do not just benefit their members, but employers and wider society too.
'Profoundly undemocratic'

"If they got out a bit more they would find that unions give employees a voice, deal with problems before they turn into disputes or end up in tribunals, and allow change to be negotiated."

Ms Veale added: "The 40% proposal would be profoundly undemocratic because you would be saying people who abstained voted no.

"If people abstain they are not voting no - they are often not there or they don't feel like voting."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said it was not a coincidence that the "concerted attack on workers' rights" came as government "prepared to unleash unprecedented cuts".

"They want to clamp down on w

orkplace rights because they know full well that the unions will be the main point of resistance to the government's austerity agenda," he said.

[MinisterofCucumber]

The Policy Exchange are talking shite. This is an attack on democracy.

[BELIAL]

The Policy Exchange are talking shite. This is an attack on democracy.

It's worse than that, it is the start of a campaign to undermine your basic human rights. It is an attempt to effectively remove your fundamental right to withdraw your labour.
Now what's the word for it when you are forced to work for a master ?

[borders]

slavery , the Tories are starting to show their true colours.......

[Big Daz]

If the Union needed 40% to vote yes to take IA, would they still need 40% to accept an agreement? Not unless that was written into the new rules,

What would happen if 50% didn't vote YES to accept it, would we still be on strike? Or are the proposed changes of benefit only to employers? Thought so.