Join rally to stop attack on unions

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Join rally to stop attack on unions which is harsher than Thatcher's

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The union is calling on as many people as possible to join a rally on 2 November to oppose the Trade Union Bill which goes even further than the Thatcher Government by attempting to stamp down on basic civil liberties and the way unions are able to stand up for members' rights.

The Bill criminalises workers for protesting on picket lines, imposes restrictions on industrial action, picketing, political campaigning, facility time and check-off in the public sector (direct payment of union subs from wages), while allowing employers to use agency workers as strike-breakers.

TU Bill We are opposing every aspect of this unjustified Bill, which effectively aims to eliminate industrial action as a bargaining tool. Combined, its measures are an attack on international labour and civil rights, and an attempt to shift the balance in a dispute towards the employer.

Its far reaching measures are also an attempt to put out of business unions in the public sector and in any company receiving public funding. This could apply to the Post Office and other companies with CWU members, receiving public funding.

On 2 November MPs will be lobbied when the CWU takes a leading role in a rally and lobby day organised by the TUC. Hundreds of people from around the country will take part in the Protect the Right to Strike rally before meeting their MPs in the House of Commons to encourage them to oppose the Bill. CWU general secretary Dave Ward will be among the speakers at Central Hall, Westminster.

We have handed the CWU's comments on The Trade Union Bill to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee, which is considering formal submissions until 27 October before the Bill continues along the various stages of debate in Parliament.

Now is a critical time to urge MPs to vote against the Bill. We have drafted a letter which you could send to your local newspaper to highlight to the wider community the undemocratic and unjustified nature of the Bill, and it suggests that readers should ask their MP to oppose it.

Key points of The Trade Union Bill:

It would require a 50 per cent turnout in an industrial action ballot; it doubles the notice period for industrial action from 7 days to 14 days; it sets a four-month time limit, from the date of a ballot, within which industrial action can be taken; there would be additional technical grounds on which a ballot could be ruled invalid to prevent action taking place; it enables agency workers to be brought in to provide cover during strikes.

On picketing: it criminalises workers for protesting on picket lines, forcing individuals to wear armbands and register with the police, and give their plans to the police. This is in the wake of blacklisting and undercover policing revelations.

On the political levy: it attempts to end our political voice and bankrupt the Labour Party given that this would leave unions just three months to get millions of people to opt-in to paying, in writing.

Changes to union facility time and check-off (direct payment of union subs) in companies and services receiving public funding: these are an attempt to put out of business unions in the public sector and in any company receiving public funding. This could apply to the Post Office and other companies with CWU members.It's of note that the cost to The Department for Communities and Local Government ‎of administering check-off is just £320.

Dave Ward GS CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: "CWU members need to be clear that while claiming to be the party of working people, the Tory Government ‎is setting out to attack workers' right to stand up for themselves in the workplace.

"The package of measures and the context in which they're being introduced make this a more far reaching and significant ‎assault on trade union rights than the Thatcher Government's. At a time when there is growing insecurity in the world of work the Government is setting out to end the right to strike and kill off political opposition to austerity.

"This is something the union movement as a whole must be prepared to fight ‎and I want as many CWU members as possible in Westminster on 2 November, making it clear that we aren't going to sit back while a Conservative government tries to criminalise workers for defending their rights at work."

Please download the letter template to send to your local newspaper. For more information read: CWU Submission to Public Bill Committee on the Trade Union Bill and visit the Trade Union Bill page on our website.

[slinder123]

always the same old trott how are we supposed to get there on monday the 2nd of november. we are working cant get out of that absolutely