Unions take legal action against law ‘restricting freedom to strike’
BRITISH unions have launched legal action against the UK government over a new law that allows agency staff to replace striking workers.
It comes as tens of thousands of workers, spearheaded by the rail and postal sectors, are continuing with walkouts over a cost-of-living crisis in Britain.
Union umbrella group the TUC is taking action on behalf of 11 unions, while Unison – representing more than a million workers – and a teachers’ union are bringing their own cases against the government, led by new prime minister Liz Truss.
Boris Johnson’s administration amended a law over the summer to allow agency staff to help fill
gaps caused by strikes.
“The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty,” TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said on Tuesday (20). “But the government is attacking it in broad daylight. Threatening this right tilts the balance of power too far towards employers.
“It means workers can’t stand up for decent services and safety at work – or defend their jobs and pay.”
Strikes that were postponed following the death of the Queen, are resuming over the next couple of weeks. Workers across various sectors have gone on strike across the country since the summer as decades-high inflation erodes earnings.
O’Grady said ministers failed to consult with unions over the law change, breaching a legal requirement. “And restricting the freedom to strike is a breach of international law,” she added.
“That’s why unions are coming together to challenge this change in the courts.”
Over the summer, the UK rail sector carried out its biggest stoppage in more than 30 years.
Some proposed non-rail strikes were halted after unions and companies agreed pay deals at the 11th hour.
But walkouts have still gone ahead by Amazon warehouse staff and criminal lawyers in recent weeks.
Next week, workers at Britain’s largest container port, Felixstowe, launch strike action for a further eight days.
The walkout from next Tuesday (27) until early on October 5 comes after an initial eight-day summer stoppage at the port in eastern England.
Teachers and health workers have, meanwhile, hinted at possible walkouts should they not receive new pay deals that they deem acceptable.