'One in five' workers face losing their right to strike
One in five workers in the North East are at risk of losing their right to strike because of looming Government legislation, union chiefs have warned.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) says the Government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill – due to be debated in Parliament today – will take away the right to strike from 221,000 workers in the region.
If the Bill is passed unamended, workers who lawfully vote to strike in health, education, fire, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning, could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply.
The TUC says the Bill allows for minimum service levels to be “dictated from Whitehall” rather than taking account of local circumstances.
Nationally, the TUC say 5.5million workers could be affected by the legislation.
Last month, four key amendments were made to the Bill in the House of Lords – including stopping frontline workers from getting sacked for exercising their right to strike – and MPs now have the chance to confirm or reject them.
Liz Blackshaw, TUC Northern regional secretary, said: “It’s time for ministers to protect the right to strike and ditch this Bill for good.
“This spiteful Bill threatens the right to strike of 1 in 5 workers in the North East.
“No one should be sacked for trying to win a better deal at work."
She added: “This draconian legislation would mean that when workers democratically vote to strike, they could be forced to work and sacked if they don’t comply.
“It’s undemocratic, it’s unworkable and it’s very likely illegal.
“With inflation still running at over 10%, the last thing workers need is for ministers to make it harder to secure better pay and conditions.”
The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee recently criticised the Bill for giving blanket powers to ministers while providing virtually no detail.
The Bill has also faced a barrage of criticism from a range of organisations, including civil liberties campaigners, the joint committee on human rights, The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, race and gender equality groups and employment rights lawyers.