Law to curb militants can’t come too soon

FOR almost a year, Tory ministers have procrastinated over new strike laws aimed at preventing tiny cliques of union militants holding the country to ransom.

Could it be that the contemptible strike by Heathrow border staff – cynically timed to cause maximum disruption to the Olympics – has finally pricked them into action? The walkout by the Public and Commercial Services Union was voted for by a paltry 11 per cent of the membership – a wafer-thin majority of the 20 per cent who bothered to turn out. So the opening of the Games and the holidays of thousands of families will be thrown into chaos by a strike that nine out of ten union members didn’t support. Chancellor George Osborne has responded by promising legislation to stop any future strike being called on such a miniscule vote. The new law – possibly ready for Parliamentary debate as early as September – would make it illegal to call a strike if less than 40 per cent of the membership had turned out to vote. Of course, the cowardly Lib Dems are against this thoroughly sensible reform for fear of antagonising the unions, but Mr Osborne must not be deflected.

With Labour so in thrall to their union paymasters, they would be forced to fight the move. This is a battle the Tories should relish and one which is guaranteed to bring them much-needed popularity. Put to one side the strikes that so frequently bring airports, railways and public services grinding to a halt. What truly sickens the public is how the unions have rapaciously exploited the Olympics to extort money for their members.

The sooner they are curbed, the better. Indeed, why only a 40 per cent minimum turnout? Surely 50 per cent would be even more democratic.