Kelly attacks union law

Rutherglen MSP James Kelly has challenged his Tory opponent Taylor Muir to oppose the Trade Union Bill.

Mr Kelly called the bill“spiteful”, adding:“The Tory candidate in Rutherglen should do the decent thing and oppose the Trade Union Bill in its entirety.

“The bill is both unnecessary and unhelpful. It is nothing more than an ideologically-driven attempt by the Tories to attack workers by removing their rights and undermining their representatives.

“There is no justification for it. Industrial disputes are at a historically low level and introducing thresholds for ballots and treating abstentions as no votes for industrial action is simply anti-democratic.

“As a proud member of a trade union I am standing shoulder to shoulder with local workers in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.”

In response Mr Muir said the right to strike is“fundamentally important”. But he added:“What I believe has to change is the situation where a strike can be called, often closing schools or even the London Underground, based on a poll where very few members voted at all.

“If workers feel they have exhausted all other options and choose to go on strike then they must be able to do so.

“However, this government is committed to making sure that strike action truly reflects a desire of a majority of the union, not of the few members who felt strongly enough to vote.”