Union crackdown could force striking workers to wear armband

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Tories' union crackdown could force all striking workers to wear armbands and report to police

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Human rights groups have blasted a plan which could force all striking workers to wear armbands and report to police.

They say the scheme floated as part of the Tories' union crackdown is a 'major attack on civil liberties' which will chip away at protests for basic rights.

Unions are already furious at plans to make every picket supervisor wear an armband or badge and show a 'letter of authorisation' to police.

Striking workers could also have to tell employers, police and regulators what they're planning to write on Twitter and Facebook two full weeks in advance.

Now it's emerged the Tories' consultation on the Trade Union Bill suggests the crackdown could go even further.

It asks unions for their opinion on whether all picket members should be made identifiable in the same way as the supervisor.

Unions warn that would make it almost impossible to strike legally - and rule breakers will be hit with fines of between £200 and £20,000.

A TUC spokesman said: "If one union member doesn't wear their armband the whole picket could be ruled to be illegal."

Leading human rights groups Liberty, Amnesty International and the British Institute of Human Rights warn the Bill is “a major attack on civil liberties in the UK”.

In a joint statement they said the bill “would hamper people’s basic rights to protest and shift even more power from the employee to the employer.”

The groups accuse ministers of deliberately trying to put “more legal hurdles in the way of unions organising strike action”.

The statement adds: "It is hard to see the aim of this bill as anything but seeking to undermine the rights of all working people.

"We owe so many of our employment protections to Trade Unions and we join them in opposing this bill."

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: "Instead of trying to ram the bill through parliament without proper scrutiny and consultation, ministers need to take a step back, recognise that they were wrong, and drop these proposals.

"The government’s excessive new restrictions on peaceful picketing and protests and unions’ use of Facebook and Twitter have no place in a modern democracy.

"Ministers should be working with unions to deliver a fairer Britain, not dreaming up new ways of stopping their members from defending jobs and pay and standing up for decent services and safety at work."

Under current laws striking workers who picket do not have to make their identity know to police.

They can leave work to stand on a legal picket line outside their workplace with no repercussions.

The Trade Union Bill will also prevent members from going on strike unless at least it's chosen by 50% of all those eligible to vote - not 50% of those who vote.

Unions complain this will hold them to a higher standard than MPs, hundreds of whom don't have the backing of half their constituents.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

There is a vote at the bottom of the page so please exercise your democratic right if you wish to do so.

[rambo1]

To seriously mess up royal mail there is no need to wear armbands or strike at all. Just everyone work properly with no coming in early, no overtime performed and no working your days off. Simple. Nobody out of pocket either.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

To seriously mess up royal mail there is no need to wear armbands or strike at all. Just everyone work properly with no coming in early, no overtime performed and no working your days off. Simple. Nobody out of pocket either.

Except the part timers with families or commitments that mean they feel the need to work overtime.

[rambo1]

I meant instead of a total walk out, whereby everyone out would not get paid at all for the days on strike. Surley what I suggested is a better way than an all out strike?

[bogstandard]

armbands and reporting to police, letting them know what you post on social media. For me, i immediately thought of the Nazis in WW II.

Not comparing this to that, it was just my first thought.

[bogstandard]

so far 8% agree blinkin flips