We cannot afford an orgy of acrimony

WORKERS deserve good pay which rewards their commitment and reflects their skills, but threats by trade unions to shatter normality and shut down vital services have no place in a modern democracy.

Trade unions have a crucial role to play in the public and private sector and at their best are a valuable bridge between management and workers. But members should reject aggressive union bosses who love the limelight and support strikes which will hurt wider society.

Shutting down the rail network at a time when the economy is struggling is destructive and self-indulgent. Strikes that would unleash travel chaos this summer and derail family travel plans would be simply cruel.

Similarly, education unions should not contemplate industrial action when young people have suffered such disruption to their studies during the pandemic.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is right to warn that strikes are “an unprovoked kick in the teeth for small businesses across the land”. And Suella Braverman has described the need to “nip union militancy in the bud”.

Giant pay increases would send inflation higher and heap more pain on the lowest-paid workers.

Nobody should feel nostalgia for the grim and painful days when governments were regularly in conflict with unions.the damage to the economy was only matched by the turmoil families suffered; at a time of fierce international competition, the UK cannot afford an orgy of acrimony.

Britain should aspire to be a high-wage economy where people find fulfilment in excellent jobs, but this will be achieved through investment and improvements in productivity, skills and infrastructure.a spate of selfish strikes would sabotage such regeneration, and a resurgence in union militancy would only lead to misery.