Labour strikers’ charter

A LABOUR government would launch a strikers’ charter, giving workers more reasons to down tools.

On a visit to Scotland yesterday, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell promised to abolish Margaret Thatcher’s trade union laws.

Mr McDonnell wants a return to the days of sympathy strikes or solidarity action, whereby workers stop work over issues that have no impact on their own jobs.

He cited Rolls-Royce workers in East Kilbride who in 1973 refused to repair Hawker Hunter aircraft engines so they could not be used by the Pinochet regime against the people of Chile.

He said: ‘Our workplace reform will restore the balance between employer and worker by installing trade union rights in law again.’

But Conservative MP John Lamont said: ‘This is a ludicrous suggestion that shows Labour want to take us back to the 1970s.

‘The current laws around striking insure against irresponsible strike action.’