Trade Unions : Reclaim Our Rights!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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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.

”The Lawful Industrial Action Bill is focused and fair,” John Hendy explains. “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.”

CWU general secretary Billy Hayes concludes: “It’s vital that we all get behind this essential piece of legislation by lobbying MPs in support of the Bill.”

To view our campaign page, click here.

[pinstripe]

13 years the Labour Party were in power, and they never, ever stuck to their 1997 promise to reform the anti-union laws introduced by Thatcher. Now they are back (where they belong?) in opposition, they are suddenly the saviour of the working man. They should have introduced this in 1997 not now.

[nottadrone]

13 years the Labour Party were in power, and they never, ever stuck to their 1997 promise to reform the anti-union laws introduced by Thatcher. Now they are back (where they belong?) in opposition, they are suddenly the saviour of the working man. They should have introduced this in 1997 not now.

I wholeheartedly agree with you Pinstripe. IMHO it's about time we formed our own party and took the power back. As long as people keep voting Labour, Tory, or Turncoat (sorry, Liberal Democrat ) then nothing will change. The rich will get richer and we'll still be oppressed, disposable, profit fodder!

[Wessex]

Can't disagree with the above posters.I long ago realised that much of the Labour party were corrupt conmen.I would never vote for them as a party but would vote for a Labour candidate if they were decent.During their tenure they had plenty of opportunities to enact legislation such as this or provide social housing.Well they had their chance why on earth would any one be stupid enough to believe them a second time.

[smokerjim]

Can't disagree with the above posters.I long ago realised that much of the Labour party were corrupt conmen.I would never vote for them as a party but would vote for a Labour candidate if they were decent.During their tenure they had plenty of opportunities to enact legislation such as this or provide social housing.Well they had their chance why on earth would any one be stupid enough to believe them a second time.

Why wouldn't Labour think the electorate ARE stupid enough - they were in 2001 & 2005 , and if Brown had been ballsy enough, it could have been 2009 as well

[DirtyHarry]

Have to agree with all of te above posters.
New Labour had 13, yes, 13, years to put that Thatcherite calumny right, they didn't move an inch towards doing it.
I have lost all faith in mainstream British politics, it's not for us, the REAL hard-working people of this country.
Less than 24 hrs after his election as the new, New Labour leader, I've heard too much about how Ed feels for "middle England."
"Middle England," are less in need of Government to fight their corner, than working class England, who have been deserted by all three mainstream political parties for far too long.
The Tories are what they are, upper class snobs fit only for other upper class snobs, and the pompous idiots that make up much of the middle classes.
The Liberals, New Labour, spend far too much time, far too much energy, courting the wastrels who largely make up what is generally called "middle England."
Let "middle England" go hang, they have a choice as to who fights their corner in government, about time we, the working class, had someone, too.
Shame is, I'm not convinced it will be Ed Milliband's New, New Labour.

[Big Daz]

John Mc D has never been Labour government and has allways been real Labour, but Labour has been engineered to keep his type away from leadership of the party.

John has fought for us many times but has been a part of a minority voice in Labour. John will keep on fighting for us regardless of Labour being in or out of government and regardless of what the national leadership of Labour want/support.

The big question is will the new PLP and Labour leader support this bill, if not and the NEC remain stubbornly wedded to Labour then the NEC need a rocket up thier backsides. Give Ed a certain amount of time then ballot the mbrs on various options. Ditch Keep or reform the link with Labour, in fact this should happen every few years if we had more democracy in the CWU!!