SUPPORT FOR THE LAWFUL INDUSTRIAL ACTION (MINOR ERRORS) BILL

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 819/10 - SUPPORT FOR THE LAWFUL INDUSTRIAL ACTION (MINOR ERRORS) BILL




No. 819 /10


Ref GS 14.0


Date: 23/09/10

(To all Branches)





To: The Branch Secretary





Dear Colleague

SUPPORT FOR THE LAWFUL INDUSTRIAL ACTION (MINOR ERRORS) BILL

Reclaim our rights!

It's time to restore the right to strike: Support the Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Bill

The best chance in years to reverse some of the most invidious elements of the Thatcher Government's anti-union legislation will reach its climax on October 22.

That day the Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Bill, introduced by Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell, will have its second reading - but time is running out to ensure that at least 100 MPs attend the debate, without which the progress of the Bill will be stopped in its tracks.

As such the United Campaign - to which the CWU is affiliated - is urging trade union members the length and breadth of the country to pressurise their MPs to commit to attending this key debate for trade union freedom.

CWU members throughout both the postal and telecoms constituencies are well aware of how companies have become increasingly adept at thwarting the democratically expressed will of workers through obscure legal means.

Now United Campaign national secretary John Hendy QC - the CWU's own Standing Counsel - is urging all those who have been angered and frustrated by recent company challenges to lawfully conducted industrial action ballots to make a stand for change.

It is vital that all workers get behind this essential piece of legislation by lobbying their MPs in support of the Bill today.

The Lawful Industrial Action Bill is focused and fair. It will mean that ordinary working people, who may be struggling to protect their pay and conditions and who have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, will not have their democratic will overruled on technical legal grounds.

How can you help?

- The United Campaign has just launched an online lobbying tool at http://www.unitedcampaign.org.uk/bill.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

where supporters can send a message to their MP in 3 quick steps.

- This week special postcards urging MPs to attend the debate have been despatched to key CWU officials and branches across the country - and recipients are urged to ensure that every one is filled out and posted to the relevant MP.

- A national lobby and demonstration in support of the Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Bill will take place at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday October 13 (see attached flyer). The event will begin at 12.30am with a half-hour demonstration. This will be followed by a rally in Committee Room 14 starting at 2pm - after which a 'Lobby your MP' session will start at 3.30pm.

Any further enquiries in this LTB should be forwarded to the General Secretary's Department quoting the reference GS 14.0

Yours sincerely

W HAYES
General Secretary

[fishtank]

- The United Campaign has just launched an online lobbying tool at http://www.unitedcampaign.org.uk/bill.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Done.

[fishtank]

- The United Campaign has just launched an online lobbying tool at http://www.unitedcampaign.org.uk/bill.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Done.

s**t...that was quick.

XXXX, I am a sponsor of the Bill. I will be there. Michael Connarty MP
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Done mine - however my MP has only ever answered 1 email and that was to check to make sure I was a constituent.

[fishtank]

Dear supporter,

1 day left to lobby MPs – urgent action needed now!

Thank you for lobbying your MP and asking them to support John McDonnell’s Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Bill.

So far you and 2848 other people have written to their MPs through the United Campaign. Now is our last chance to help secure a vital step towards protecting the democratic rights of workers.

The modest, mild and moderate LIAME Bill will have its second reading in Parliament this Friday. 100 MPs are required in the House for the Bill to get past the Second Reading stage.

If you ask 5 friends to send an email today MPs will receive an extra 14,000 messages asking that they stay in the House to support the Bill.

Please forward this email to your contacts and ask them to lobby their MP in 3 quick steps online now: http://www.unitedcampaign.org.uk/bill.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This may be our last chance to secure the repeal of a section of the anti-trade union laws which has resulted in countless democratic votes in favour of industrial action being struck down by the courts.

Please protect the human right to withdraw our labour! Please lobby your MP now!

http://www.unitedcampaign.org.uk/bill.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[smokerjim]

Done - but as my MP is Michael Fallon ( Cons ), I won't hold my breath

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Done and Mr B Sheerman says he will be supporting the bill.

[Stormproof]

Done and I doubt I'll hear anything off him, being in the Cabinet now he's too important to speak to a lowly worker.

[baldrick]

My MP is now a ConDem Coalition Minister, so she will toe the Tory line, though she was elected as a LibDem MP,
so there's no point in writing to her.
She had better make the most of her Ministerial salary and perks, as she has a small majority, and I doubt that she
will be re-elected next time.

[Stormproof]

Done and I doubt I'll hear anything off him, being in the Cabinet now he's too important to speak to a lowly worker.

Received a letter from my MP this morning it just said he would'nt be there because he has appointments that day in his constituency

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Done and I doubt I'll hear anything off him, being in the Cabinet now he's too important to speak to a lowly worker.

Received a letter from my MP this morning it just said he would'nt be there because he has appointments that day in his constituency

Well thats a half result as they wont be able to vote against it which is what they would have done if they had been in the house that day.

[fishtank]

Done and I doubt I'll hear anything off him, being in the Cabinet now he's too important to speak to a lowly worker.

Received a letter from my MP this morning it just said he would'nt be there because he has appointments that day in his constituency

Well thats a half result as they wont be able to vote against it which is what they would have done if they had been in the house that day.

The Bill was debated on 22 October 2010 but ran out of time. It will be on the Order Paper to resume its Second Reading debate on 29 October 2010, although the House is not expected to sit on this day.http://services.parliament.uk/bills/201 ... rrors.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not sure what happens now.