Reform of strike laws ‘smacks of 1930s Germany’, unions

Controversial moves by the Government to reform strike laws have been roundly condemned by union leaders, one of whom said it “smacks of Germany in the 1930s”.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Jul 2015, 15:52 BST
A member of the picket inspecting the police outside the Orgreave Coking plant near Rotherham during the miners' dispute, as the miners' strike started in Yorkshire in early March 1984A member of the picket inspecting the police outside the Orgreave Coking plant near Rotherham during the miners' dispute, as the miners' strike started in Yorkshire in early March 1984
A member of the picket inspecting the police outside the Orgreave Coking plant near Rotherham during the miners' dispute, as the miners' strike started in Yorkshire in early March 1984

Legislation expected to be published on Wednesday will propose a 50% turnout threshold for industrial action ballots, while in “core” public services such as health, transport, education and the fire service, 40% of those eligible to vote must back action.

Other measures are likely to see the removal of current restrictions on using agency workers to cover for strikers, so that employers will be able to “stick two fingers up” and bring in other staff to break any industrial action, say unions.

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The Certification Officer could be given new powers to put more “red tape burdens” on unions, while workers whose unions have a political fund will have to opt into it rather than opting out, which will hit Labour funding.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The Government is determined to strip workers of power at the negotiating table and give bosses the upper hand during disputes.”

Related topics:GovernmentGermanyLabourTUC